I want to explain a common craigslist scam that targets people renting out property. If you are not aware of this scam, you may fall victim to it. I, myself, have been targeted by this scam but have never been a victim. I unsuspectingly replied to these fraudulent e-mails thinking they were legitimate roommates, but after several exchanges, my gut instincts told me better.

How the Scam Works

The scammers or purported roommates make initial contact with you, stating that they are interested in renting your room, but cannot visit because they are overseas or have a tight time constraint and can’t make the time.

The scammer insists they are easy going and would like to move. They would have a very legitimate-sounding story. They might be a medical school or college student, or perhaps starting a new computer or modeling job, and they might even be arriving with their parents. Somewhere in the exchange of e-mails, they ask you for the total amount to secure the room for them to move in.

This is where I stopped the e-mail conversation, as it was getting too sketchy and just didn’t feel right. I didn’t want anyone to move in without first meeting them in person. That’s my #1 rule; enough said.

Based on my research, if you did reply to the scammer’s e-mail with the total amount, the scammer would send you a check, or very often some kind of international money order, for more than the total amount needed to secure your room. They might say it is a money order for their scholarship or an employer’s paycheck. Some of the scammers would just contact you, stating that they made a mistake and overpaid you. In any case, they would always request that you send the difference back to them via Western Union or Moneygram.

Seems fair and legit so far, right? Where’s the scam?

The scammer sent you a check or money order that looks genuine, but it’s actually counterfeit. The bank will accept this fraudulent check, as you are depositing it into your account. They may even cash it if you have an account with them. When you send them back the amount that was “overpaid,” you’re really sending them your own money, and the bank will deduct the full amount of the fraudulent check from your account when it fails to clear. Thus, the scammer runs away with your money.

Simple Ways Not to Fall Victim to This Scam

Always talk to the potential roommates on the phone and determine their sincere interest.

Be wary of foreigners. Scammers usually reside outside the U.S. to avoid prosecution, so if the e-mail is from a foreigner, be careful.

Read the e-mail carefully. If there are a lot of spelling and grammatical mistakes, it’s most likely a scammer from abroad.

Avoid using Moneygram and Western Union to do transactions; instead meet up and exchange initial checks in hand. Better yet, never give money back until a check or money order clears your bank. For international checks, that may be several weeks.

Last thoughts

This scam not only targets users of craigslists, but other roommate subscription sites as well. I have received the e-mails from scammers while using other resources, such as roommates.com and roomster.com. The e-mails generally read along the same lines, so it not isolated to craigslist. Trust your gut and follow the advice in this post to determine if you are dealing with a legitimate applicant.

If you have received an e-mail, please take the time to paste it in the comments so that it appears on Google searches so that it may prevent other innocent people from getting scammed.

Thanks for the warning. I’ve read about this scam in many different areas, not just renting rooms, yet the idea is the same…they send a money order for more than what you are asking, then ask for a refund of the difference. Then you’re out lots of money when their check doesn’t clear.

Because of this website, I stop short of being SCAMED. The room that I was renting out was $425.00 they sent me a check for $3,350.90. I called the company from who the check was written out, everything on the check was correct. However it was not sent from them. Just think if I had not found this website first, I would have been taken for the sum of 2,925.90. I have kept the check and all the emails, and I will be sending them to the FBI. Thanks so much
A Very Great full Gordon

I’m glad you found the information helpful and didn’t get scammed! That’s one of the reasons why I started the site, I didn’t want people falling victim to scammers and to help other newbie live-in landlords out.

well done! I thought too … so far the scam I got are so popular that if you googled them the names and you can find on the internet.
The last email I got is different because she is going to send certificate check but I don’t where is the catch …

@Rick, Don’t give up! You’ll have to weed through the spammers and scammers. It’s just the nature of Craigslist unfortunately. I recently sold a laptop on craiglist and was bombarded with scammers, but I eventually sold it. You’ll eventually find a roommate. Don’t Give up! If you have questions, just ask!

Thanks for posting this; I’ve been trying to rent a room on Craiglist and got two “international students.” When I requested to meet them in person, they disappeared. Thank God I never gave them info to send money.

The easiest way to weed through scammers is to request within the ad that they use a specific word or phrase as the subject when responding. Scammers don’t actually read the whole ad so if you get a response to your ad that doesn’t have the correct requested subject, then you know not to reply to them.

OMG my bank just saved my butt from being scammed. a girl from canada claimed to be coming over and gave a check to me and when i went to the bank to deposit me, they just told me about the room-mate scam and saved my butt of $3500!!!!

I just caught on to a scammer and of course I was not aware of this scam… Thanks for the information!

It was a little fishy so I researched scams and it was a dead on match… The girl was out of the country (canada), wanted to send me a money order and reserve the room without seeing it, She said she was 28 yet gave me a 1985 dob, her name… was Wag, she was not willing to sign a lease till she got in town but she wanted to ship her things here therefore she was making the check out for more than the rent due for the shippers, she had very strange grammer, she kept avoiding answering questions that she should have been able to answer, she did not have a scanner to send proof of idetification or a camera to send a picture of herself. All signs point to scammer!

Man, this is just happening to me. I got a check for $2775 for a room renting for $350. She told me she is having a car delivered. I deposited the check, but won’t do anything until, or if, it clears. Hope I can muddle thru this. Thanks for the heads up.

I have received at least twenty scam responses in two days….poor grammar and form letter styles that duplicate each other…i am so frustrated that i started responding in a nasty way…I am on several roommate sites and they are all the same…Either same person with different names or a form letter sold to scammers..it is very easy to identify..I Just need a real room mate

I got one of these e-mails and I was 99% sure it was a scam. So I googled it and I read this article. It’s exactly what the e-mail I got was. So I replied with a link to this saying “Shame on you. I hope you don’t try this again on someone else.”

Here is the e-mail they sent me.
Hello,
Thanks very much for e-mailing me back.. I am Christina massengill by name and live in Seattle, WA. I would have been kind of happy if we can meet before making any plans, but am very busy and i have a lot of things to do right now.. I will really appreciate it if you can tell me more about the place and tell me little about you because my uncle is presently very sick, and i have to travel to Finland to see him but i want to secure the place down before going. He was involved in a car crash with his new car some weeks back and now ill seriously, I need to check on him and take good care of him.
I am staying in CHRMC Children’s Hospital Seattle staff Quarters now The address is below:
4800 Sandpoint Way NE Seattle, WA 98105

I am moving cause of my job, am a medical Humanitarian nurse for united Nations. I work for CHRMC Children’s Hospital in Seattle but will be working in a local clinic over there, More about me, am a neat type of person, honest, humble and responsible. I like honest, responsible and hardworking people while i hate the lazy, messy and uncaring people….well am a quiet and gentle going person to live with….I am 27 yrs old female, 5.4 in height ,i like tourism and i don’t keep late at nights neither i will have overnight guest around but am ok if you do..

I was born and brought up in Finland, i studied there i had my university education right there while staying with my uncle.. I lived all my life in Finland before coming down to Seattle, WA have been living with my uncle from age 13…Then i was member of the Red Cross Association it really sounds interesting for me…Am sure You ‘ll really like the person that i am ,because i will also do the dishing if you like I work when i am to and relax when i am to,I also like sharing my thoughts also….paying rent on time will not
be a problem as i will also be making the rent fee before the month ends….I do not have any pet, i really like dog and cat but have none of it now, so there is no problem about that.
I must confess am comfortable with the price and I will want to secure the place down before my arrival so i will want you to tell me all about the place as i can’t see it before my arrival but the pictures…I also will want you to know that i have my car that i will be coming over with little of my furniture.
please let me know if there will be room for them. With all that I’ve said above I have told you more about me and more picture of mine will be attach in the next email Let me also know how i can go about securing the place down before my arrival as i will also be busy from next week and let me know if you can take off the ad off the site as i am going to secure the place with a deposit
Feel free to ask me any question and as I’ve said i am looking to move in by the availability of the place but want to secured it now
Thanks..

This just happened to me. 3900.00 out. I am so upset. I wish i had done more research. They even had the nerve to send me a text message horrible grammar and lots of “lol’s”. My mistake. I will spread the word to others.

Thanks for putting this info out there.
I posted a room for rent and 3 people have tried everything you mentioned, out of state, out of country and one living with her x and his wife living on her income tax check while looking for work as a model.
Being from Nyc, (possibly the scam capital) I can feel when something is not right.

Wow sure glad google showed me this. I put an ad up for a roomate and got responses from three different young women who are currently overseas. Haha. I think I’ll get all of their checks and put them in a frame for some art in my living room.

I too put up a rental add in Craigslist and got two bites right away from two foreigners with a parallel story- wanting to secure the place asap but out of meeting distance and very likeable. They could not have mentioned more the fact that they were in dire need to secure the place and needed my info to send me a check for multiple months worth of rent. Of course instinct kicks in that this is not right, especially with no mention of the legal aspect that comes along with renting- signing documents holding them liable for rent, damages, etc. Never hurts to use common sense in these types of things!

Hey Mike, thanks for putting the word out. I knew there was something fishy about this potential roommate. “Susan Mallet female from Spain” wanted to know what the move in cost would be, including utilities, so that she could secure her room before she moved here for her new job at the “Federal Agency of Works and Natural Resources.” She said her Organization would be responsible for all her costs and fees. My spidey senses were tingling, so I googled craigslist room for rent scams, and came across your insightful blog. I asked for her passport photo, and some other questions that would make it difficult for a scammer to answer, and I haven’t heard from “her” again. Keep up the good work!

I advertised for a roommate and got a few responses. The one girl did get my attention because i thought about getting a foreign student to rent. this sounded so good she was from spain coming to az to get her masters and also worked for the government on some environmental study program. her dad would take care of all deposits and then she added she was having a car delivered and the ck would include the delivery fees, i didn’t answer right away because my mom was very sick and in the hospital so i spent several days up there and didn’t have time to respond that was not my priority at this time. i emailed her and let her know that i did not have the chance to give her much detail and would as soon as i knew my mom was ok. the day after that emailed i received a ck for $2950.00 sent from florida but the ck was from a union bank in calif. the signer of the ck was a gas corporation. i took it to my bank before i got back to her asking if they thought it was some kind of scam and they said it was a good account i would have to wait 2 days. I had no intention of spending anything since i only asked for 1100.00 deposit i didn’t want the responsibility of a vehicle being delivered. The bank said it had a two day hold which then it did show the balance in my account until i called the 3 day and things were sounding fishy, 5 minutes later the mail lady came with a envelope which had 3 money orders for 975.00 each so now i knew something was up i still didn’t email the girl nor did she write back, i was still dealing with my moms sickness. I decided to go to walmart before close since i knew a few of the manager pretty well and asked to cash one this way i would have a better idea well the circle on the money gram did not fade like it was suppose to and the next clue was they were dated 2 months earlier and i just put the add up for the first time so i new that was messed up and walmart doesn’t cash anything over 30 days the next mess up was it was printed on regular paper they were too different colors and the lines and number didn’t even line up so they aren’t very smart. i really didn’t give much of any info except a work email the bank said they would not get any personnel info if we put the ck through. I think these scammers really need to get caught and put away. I was really looking for a roommate that was in school and had her priorities straight. This was a bad mess up on my part i never heard of these scammers and the timing for me was terrible where i didn’t have the time to deal with the add with the unexpected illnesses of my mother. I didn’t have time to get back with her except 2 short notes and she just decided to keep sending money which was her first give away plus i sent a friend her picture the nite before and she said she looked dangerous and evil. I wonder whose picture she really used..

Wow I just got a very similar email & text message but I didn’t send them back my information I wanted to do some research first. I am glad I found this website, but I am sorry you have been a victim to this scam!

Whoever started this site…thank you! I was receiving some sketchy emails about somebody wanting to move in without seeing the place. So i googled it, and this site came up, and it was basically the exact thing they were doing. Tried sending me a check for the full amount without even seeing the place.

Someone tried to scam me (actually, the same scammer replied to my ad twice, with slightly different wording) but the gist is the same. My scam radar started going off, but I thought, “Hey, maybe this is for real”.. until she asked to send extra money so I could pay for a car being dropped off. I replied and said NOPE that’s between you and dealer as I was 95% scam at this point, but they sent the check(s) anyway. They were both from out of the country, in Costa Rica, and moving to the area, but a car will be delivered so they included extra money – $2900 check on a $695 rent.

They did NOT send western union money order, they sent a check. The first clue to anyone should be that the “from” address on the ups envelope is from random company (that does exist and with correct address. One of them is from “Meadow Farms Sausage Co” – LOL!) but my checks are supposedly drawn on a Southern California Gas Company bank account. What the hell? Checks are “issued” from union bank of california.

Someone screwed up though, they actually sent TWO checks a few days apart. Came from two different states (CO and CA), one via fedex, one via UPS. But the checks are identical. Same date, same everything. SAME CHECK NUMBER! lol. Better luck next time guys.

I already explained (to my potential new roommate who contacted me from Sweden, about my ad) that things were moving too fast, I am not comfortable securing a roommate that I have not met yet, let alone having a car shipped over from Sweden without having even discussed parking arrangements. In the latest correspondence I also mentioned … as far as I am concerned nothing is confirmed yet, so please do not send any money.

“Hello ,
The unimaginable thing I feared most has happened to me,
my mum passed away! I am extremely distraught, I can’t believe this can happen!
My mother is the catalyst behind all my present achievements and I
have been highly dependent on her for more future support. Why did she
have to go? This shouldn’t be happening to me, not now.
I told my employer about the news and he has given his condolences.
He made a mistake of sending my shippers(Victor) money along with
your payment to your address,instead of sending it separately.
I’m so confused and depressed. What do we do now?
Please I will be coming but there might be a delay in my arrival.
Nelson”

I was buying it … until all of a sudden I am like the closest shoulder he has to cry on. Plus, this out of the blue Money Draft for this crazy amount. Anyway, moving forward I will instruct Nelson to deal with my agent that is now managing this negotiation (please reference file #___ and email to admin@antifraudcenter.ca)

So sorry to hear about your loss, Maria and anyone else that has fallen victim. It is sickening how prevalent this has become.

Thanks for posting! More people need to be aware.
I listed a roomate needed ad on Craigslist and received 4 such scammers within 24 hours. They all “couldn’t talk” either because they were hearing impaired or in a “remote area”. Also, they never mentioned the university or town in their response. In otherwords they could have used their letter for anyone, anywhere in the country it was too generic. Seriously, who would pay up front to secure a room (they haven’t seen) with a roommate (they have never met)? They also each mentioned they go to church every Sunday and have karaoke night once a week.

How has been your day? I am a female looking for somewhere to stay in
your area . I saw your advert and i wanted to inquire on the
status…. please kindly get back to know the availability of the spot
plus the requirements..

Thanks

Nicolle
————————–
My reply:

Content: Hi there,

Well like the ad said, The rent is $400/mo and also requires a $400 down payment. The $400/mo would include rent, all utilities, cable, and internet.

I have two dogs, so you would have to be okay with animals. You would have your own room but we would share a bathroom, living room, and kitchen. No drugs. Light drinking is okay.

There would be an application you would have to fill out and be able to provide proof of work or of your money intake. The spot will stay available until it is filled.

Content: Hi
Thanks for your reply,I really do appreciate it,. I would
have loved us to see u before making any plan but i really have a lot of
things to do right now, But will be okay if you can tell me more about the
place and you,as my uncle is presently sick and i have to go see him,but
really want to hold a place down…
More about me again, i am a nurse,am 26 years old of
age..I am the neat type,I like honest, responsible, trustworthy and
hardworking while I dislike lazy,messy,uncaring people and I love
pets so much, am quiet and easy going person to live with. I like tourising
and,i don’t keep late nights but i am okay if you do,I was born and bread in Finland as there was where i had my university education and stayed with my uncle there!!
I lived all my life way in Finland before coming down to South Dakota to stay together with a nurse friend,
I grew up with my uncle since 15 years old…I’ve also wanted to be in the medical
line since i was born, I served in the I served in the Paris Red Cross for 8 months, we
have involved in projects that includes orphans,orphanages,heart related
diseases in children between the ages of 4-10yrs .
Ambition and Work:

I was looking to move over to your state because i need to live on my own and i understand that i’ll be
doing good overthere as i ve been told by my uncle’s friend who ones live
over there..And i will be working with any hospital around as i am also
making enquires about that now…
Am sure You ‘ll really like the person that i am ,because i will also do
the dishing if you like, I work when i am to and relax when i am to,I also
like sharing my thoughts also….paying rent on time will not be a problem
as i will also be making the rent fee before the month ends….
Right now.I ve the support of my uncle about my well being,so you shouldn’t
be bothered about if i am competent of paying the rent
I must confess i am comfortable with the price and I will want to secure
the place down before my arrival so i will want you to tell me all i need to know about the place,as i can’t see it before my arrival …I also will want you to
know that i have a car that i will be coming over with,and little of my
furnitures, please let me know if there will be room for them..
With all that i’ve said above,I have told you more about me and more
picture of mine will be attach in the next email,Let me also know how i can
go about securing the place down before my arrival as i will also be busy
from next week preparing to come over.
Feel free to ask me any question, as i’ve said i am looking to move in
by the availability of the place,
Thanks…
Regards
————————
My reply:

Content: Hi Nicolle,

Sorry for the late reply. If you do not have another place yet, I will e-mail you an application and you can fill it out and send it back to me when you are finished.

Thanks once again for the quick reply, Really would have loved to call You
but am leaving now to see my sick uncle, i can only communicate via
email but I will make sure i call you whenever i get there but before that i will want to secure the place, I am very happy meeting a person like you,It’s nice
reading from you again and i will never ever want to loose the room
even without seeing the place ,i smell the kind of person whom you are
and i like you,I will want You to know that i am okay with the cost ,if
none is included again…..

I got to believe that the person that one wants to live with matters
most,i believe that you’ll be a nice person,I just have my
dressers,computer table,kitchen utensils and a queen size bed,2 big
luggages and my car to be shipped….
I got a message that my uncle is sick in Finland,i hope have already
mention that before and i have to go see him but i am making plans to
secure place so that when i come back i’ll just move in into the place, and with the way we ve communicated,I am okay
with you and i want you to know that i don’t want to make any travel
plans without securing a place down now,I will be signing a year lease
for the start if you are okay with that,so i ve let my uncle understand
more about you and the place,He is really comfortable and he told me
that it is a nice area that i should not afford to loose your place also he said that i should try and make sure that i hold down the place,so i thought of it and i
will be making payment to hold down the place and the mode of payment
will be by United State Certified Money Order,so pls let me know if
this mode of payment is ok by you.
And if YES pls provide me with the following information to get the
payment to you.Your full name as it will appear on the payment, your
work place address in order to ensure delivery in your hands through regular
mails or a courier service, your phone number on the package to avoid
package missing in transit. I will prefer to send to your work address
because you will always be available at work from morning till evening
but if home address, it will be sitting in your mail and no one will be
at home to receive the package.And if you don’t receive package at your
office address then I guess your home address will be good for the
delivery right ? But to avoid any delay of you receiving at home then I
guess any address will be fine as long as you will be able to receive
it.
So Kindly get back to me with this requested address contact information
so that we can proceed asap bye for now..
Feel free to ask me any question(s) you have okay
Thanks…

Nicolle

*****This email also had a picture of a woman with dark hair attached to it
———————————
My reply #3:

Hello Nicolle,

First off, I have an application that you must fill out and return to me before I will hold a spot for anyone. I work for a government agency so I will be doing a background check on all applicants, of which you must agree to or you will be disqualified as an applicant. I will also not hold a spot for anyone without at least talking to them on the phone and most likely until I meet them. I will not accept money orders, cash or paypal are the only two payments I will accept at this time, also I am only offering a 3 month lease to start out with.

If you would like me to send you an application for you to begin filling out, please let me know. Otherwise, I will have to automatically reject your inquiry of being a roommate.

My gut was right…but your site confirmed it! I am so happy that I found you. I got 2 letters in 24 hours: same grammatical slant in wording….blah blah blad American Red Cross…visiting mother in Spain I even the the exact one from the FINDLAD with the uncle in the accident. I didn’t send my address and if there is any way they can fins it, and they do send me a check Should I just rip it up? Before I found yhis site I did respond to the first one and was acy
tually gioing toH
holfd the room for her and told her I would hold her check till she got here….. but again gave no address and no nphone # to her.
I have to decided to respond just by saying the room is rented . Yes or no?
Vickie

Thanks for getting back to me,I’m Diana Gibbs a 23yrs old female,fun loving,
friendly,clean, caring,and respectful of others and a non-smoker
don’t do drugs i drink occasionally and drama free. I graduated last year in
Greater London UK and I’m single and have no children.I do bible study and
sometimes we do karaoke night with my roommates in park row! I go to church
every Sunday so i need to secure the room before my coming and I’ll be
moving in with my luggage’s. You seem to be a very interesting person and
I must tell you that you will like staying with a girl like me in the house
as i make people smile,So I need to be in the state before the ending of
the Month and i will be staying for a year as i have programs to run during
my stay. I am coming to continue my educational career Masters Degree
Microbiology so a little more about me, I was born in England (UK) my
families are from London as well. I graduated from the University of
Greenwich with a degree in Microbiology Science specializing in Microbiology
and Molecular Biology. I speak both English and French and I’m presently
on a research work assistant, I’m almost done with that because it’s part
of my perquisite for my masters so I would have loved to call you but i
can’t make an international calls from my phone so it’s kind of hard to
call here and i don’t want to waste much time as i really need to secure
the room on time so i do love pets but i don’t have any at the moment. I
would like to see the room before renting but I’m okay with pictures so i
will be renting sight unseen. I will also want you to tell me more about
yourself and if there’s a garage or parking space as I will have my own
personal car so let me know the total amount of the room so that i can send
your email to my dad for him to email you later because he is the one that
will be paying the bills inform of a Cashier’s Check so I will want you to
get back to me with your Full Name and Address and your Phone Number as well
for the payment to be made immediately so with that you can hold the room
till my arrival .yes let me give you my daddy phone no so that you can give
him a call okay,phone no 925 851 8656, I will be looking forward to your
hear from you soon.

THANK YOU for this web site! I received an email from Nicolledickson79@yahoo.com, worded exactly like the one Hillary received. I immediately sensed something was wrong, because my Craigslist posting is VERY detailed about my requirements … so why was she asking me to state these again? After entering the email address on a search engine, I found this web site and confirmed my suspicions. I’m so grateful!

wow, this site is awesome. I’m renting a room in my house and when I got an e-mail I thought it was too good to be true. After doing some research I found out it really was too good to be true.

Red Flags went up in so many directions after reading this then reading this website.
Here is her email:

Thanks for getting back to me.. My full name is Doris S. Jendy i’m
25yrs old.(FEMALE) I was born in CHINA beijing i speak both language,
my Dad is from US while my Mum is from CHINA … I went to Beijing
University Of Technology china and i graduate last year in Beijing
University Of Technology. I’m fun loving, personal, friendly,
clean,caring and respectful of others. a non-smoker, don’t do drugs
but i drink occasionally, am single and have no children. I go to
church every Sunday.I am coming for my masters degree, am presently on
research work at Guam, but will be coming to the state for my master
degree in October … I would have loved to call you but this is a
remote area calls is hard to go through from here and i don’t want to
waste much time. I’m really interested in renting from you, i would
have loved to see it but am very far, with pictures ill really
appreciate it. I really want you to tell me more about yourself and if
you have garage or parking space cos ill have my own car coming over,
please let me know the total payment of the place and, payment will be
done by via US Cashier or Certified Check. So i want you to feed me
back with the following details so that i can ensure you are ready to
accept the payment…

Get back to me with the information to facilitate the mailing of the check.
* First Name:
* Last Name:
* Street Address:
* City, State, Zip Code:
* Cell Phone Number:
* Total Amount :

Note:.. My Dad will issue out the payment for the deposit as soon as
possible, with that you can hold on the place for me till i come, and
payment will be shipped to your address via Ups or FedEx. I’ll be
waiting to read back from you with the information requested today.

I’m posting another one. Initially, the red flag for me was that these people would move into someone’s house without meeting or talking to them. Seriously? What whack’o would do that??? Even if it were legitimate, that’s just weird.

Same thing: overseas… professional…wanting to secure the place right away…TMI with the first email…and talking it up like it would be the perfect match…..

Here’s this one’s email: Erin texter

Thank you for the response. I would like to secure the place for my
big move on September 30th, 2012. Let me tell you more about myself: I
was born and raised in England and I’m presently living at 3
Marlborough Lane, London SE7 7DE. I am looking for a 6 months to 1yr
lease. I’m a clinical Pharmacist relocating to the USA to experience
something new in my career. I’m a coffee drinker addict, I love pets
so much, a quiet and easy going person to live with. I swim for fun
and sometimes play tennis. I need a place where I can enjoy being
home, I guess your place is ideal for me.

I prefer cleanliness than any other traits. I take pride in where I
live and have respect for the people that I live. Make no mistake I’m
a fun person and love to hang out. I always become friends with almost
everyone that I have lived with. I also have a great love for nature.
I am into plants and take pride in the yard as well.

I have few questions for you.
i) I will like to have the exact rent fee per month plus the utilities.
ii) I will like to know the size of the room.
iii) I will be shipping some of my things down to the States. I have a
Toyota Avalon (XLX 2009) which I’ve been using for over 6 months now,
and some of my furniture (just some picture frames and art work). Will
there be garage or parking space for my car??
iv) I will also like to know if I can make an advance payment prior to
my arrival as a commitment that I am truly coming over and for you to
hold the room down for me.
v) If the #4 questions is YES, I will like to know the total cost for
the initial move as in first month rent and if you accept deposit.
vi) I will like to know the major intersection nearest to your
neighborhood. Like shopping mall, bus line e.t.c

I look forward to hearing from you again.. You are free to ask me any
more question(s) via my email.

I got two emails like that this morning….. i am renting a room in my house and this is just sick and scary…………….I came accross this website when I google one of the scammers names..Doris S. Jendy was the name and the other one was Ann Kathlyn something

Thanks to everyone who put the word out. I very recently put up an ad for a room at my condo and got just this type of response. Alarms went off right away, largely because the email seemed to placate every question I would ask before I asked it, plus the email didn’t really seem to be addressed to me. It was more like someone trying to throw all the possibilities at me at once. I am a Christian. I party. I go to church. I am responsible. My uncle pays for my rent. Just a ton of stuff.

It was more of a monologue and lacked any kind of personal touch. Also, the responder was supposedly a woman who sent me her picture, which I thought odd. I thought this might be a scam and wondered just how they were going to trick me out of money, and now I know. Thanks to all. Here is the email I received:

Thanks for the cordial response ,I am quite comfortable with the available rental and living environment.I have plans moving in by 17th of October (2012) but won’t mind if the rent start counting sooner..

About me…My name is Racheal Morrisson (F),I am 25yrs old,I am fun loving, personal, friendly,clean, caring,and respectful to others. a non-smoker,i don’t do drugs, i drink occasionally,and drama free. I graduated last year in London, I am single and have no children… i do bible study, and sometimes we do karaoke night with my roommate! i go to church every Sunday .I am coming for my Masters degree. i am from Spain,specifically Malaga but live in London and my Parent are from there too but my Dad has passed away 4year (may his soul rest in peace)…I went to Kingston University in London. I speak both English and Spanish fluently ,am presently on research work and its part of my prerequisite for my masters in Microbiology.

I am currently on a research program for my Master ,and i am desperately looking for a place to stay.I read your profile about the room and i would really love to secure the room from you before my arrival,and more so to know if it would be possible for me to pay for the room before my arrival, So i will like to know the total amount of the room per month and the utility included. Am looking to rent for the minimum of 6-12 months, also i am ready to sign a year lease but i dont mind Month to Month rent as well .All these information are very important so that i can submit my proposal to my Uncle,since my uncle is making the total payment for the first & last month rent plus security deposit and shipping of my car and few of my furnitures he will be mailing out payment to you via Money Order in one of his business trip abroad to hold the room down for me before my arrival.Should you agree to receive payment via Money Order in US dollars,kindly advise me of your Full Name ,Contact Address (either Work or Home Address depends on where you assure to receive it in person )and contact telephone #.

I have a different email I use to deal with these, and I always send a reply like this, to distract them and waste their time. It’s amazing after telling them they will sleep in the same room with an old may that may try to rape them, they say it’s all ok, and want to still rent the room:

Hi Sandra,

Thanks for the reply! You sounds like a great person, and would be perfect for the room. I will send you my bank account information so you can secure the room before you arrive. I just want to make sure you are still interested concerning our last email. You would be sharing the room with a very sick old man who likes to climb into bed with young women. He is basically harmless, as I mentioned, and you must be strong to resist his advances, and not afraid to resort to violence. Although his intention is to have sex with you, I am sure you will be able to resist as he is quite old. Understand we do not want you to kill him, and we do not want to hear a lot of noise from this room. If you need to secure something on his mouth, that is ok.
Other than that small inconvenience, I know you will love living with our family. The weather is so nice this time of year, and the pool is a genuine joy! We respect that you are clean and neat, but and so are we, although sometimes our daughter may poo in the sink.

This same person just tried me..a lot of them have tried.. people are hungry for money because of the economy..I tell them I know it’s a scam and I’m going to report them..there are so many out there. You are wary of even the honest ones..

how are you? am very happen for the reply to my craigslist i was born in Russia and raised up there i am JILL JOHN.i am quiet and easy going passion to live with. I’m 27 years of age, I am extremely clean,quiet and respectful, I am sensitive, intelligent and am easy to get on with. .. i must tell you that i really like the area of the apt so much

Right now,am in Iraq for the military assignment to make a peace now thank GOD,have been posted to united state for the research in your town for the 9 month will be in your town and I need a room to stay for the period of time,so I want to secure room/apt before my arrival.

Now,i am ready to pay for the room. I will like to make the payment for the first month.have told my captain about this and he promised to make sure that he will meet up with the payment so that I can depart from here as scheduled.he also said I will have the advantage to deposit for the first month.I should arrive to your place on or before the next month, so pls the keep room for me till my arrival.He also said my mode of payment will be the Most acceptable,safer and reliable means of payment which is United state certified money order,so get back to me with your FULL NAME AND ADDRESS for the payment,hope to read back from you soon,remain blessed

Thank you all for this helpful information. Watch out for the email address annkathyp05@aol.com just a few days ago she posted an ad on Craigslist looking to rent a room and she lives in Idaho and wants to secure a room without seen it in person. Also today she emailed me and wants to ship her car and the few items to bring with her, computer table, dresser, kitchen utensils, and 2 big luggages. If I did not come across this web site I would not have known this was a scam. I have not answered her back yet, but now I know what to tell her.

I was warned about this scam from a friend and then looked it up and found this posting. I don’t think I would ever had send them money back and don’t plan too, but they had already sent me the check. So, ou of curiousity, I deposited it into an account I haven’t used in some time just to see what happened. I haven’t heard back from the person that sent it in sometime, considering I explained to them I was pretty sure it was a scam and didn’t plan on sending them any money back. I check today and the money went through but only 200 of the 2400 of it did. I am very confused and curious if anyone else has had a similar situation and possibly any advise to give.
Thank you,
Mike

Mike, I hope you kept the $200, if only just for this scammer having wasted your time. Besides, any attempt to return it would probably give them TMI about your bank account and possibly cost you a transfer fee.

Hey, there’s an idea! Deposit The Check and keep their money. You were smart to deposit it into an account you seldom use. If we all did this, the scammers could lose a lot of money. Although, somehow it occurs to me that this may be illegal…? So, just leave it there forever and withdraw it when your funeral expenses are looming. 😉

I’m so glad to hear the room is still available for rent, here is
little about me, my name is Eric Collins i speak both German &
English, am single, fun, loving, clean, and respectful of others,
don’t do drugs. My father is from US and my mother is from Germany, am
21yrs old, sex male. I was born in Rheinland-Pfalz (Germany) i attend
University of Hannover, and graduated a year ago.

I’m coming for a long term stay and am ready to sign a year lease as
soon as i get to your house, but am presently on research work at Guam
and will be coming for my master’s degree from soon. I’ll be arriving
November 24th, and pay for the deposit and one month rent upfront,
loved to call you but here is a remote area calls are very hard to go
through, and also love to come and check at the room before renting
but am very far, with pictures that will makes me happy and feel
comfortable.

Please tell me little about yourself… if you are a student?,
working?, married or single?, if there is a garage or parking space
because i will be coming with my own car. Let me know the total amount
for the first month rent, because i will be paying upfront so that it
will give you strong prove that am really interested in renting the
room from you. Payment will be done via US Cashier’s or Certified
Check, so please feed me back with the following details so that i can
ensure you are ready to rent the room to me.

I’ll be waiting to read back from you with the information requested
so that i can forward it to my father to issue out the check for the
deposit and month rent up front as soon as possible, with that you can
hold on the place prior my arrival… Thanks for your co-operation

Thanks Mike for this! They almost got me on Thanksgiving Day no doubt! I got the below email, and a few others, with the same garbage about how “SHE” is very easy going, very busy and cant call because of international phone restrictions, but she will have her uncle send me the money plus fees to ship her car and small items for the room I was renting in my Townhome. I also got the email from a girl in Finland with a sick Uncle, and she works for the Red Cross…blah blah blah… She also sent me a very cute photo (tall blonde), red flags immediately shot up…what 27 yo girl would send a guy money overseas for a room in a home she has never seen or to a guy she has never met? Smells like fish? It’s probably sushi. I got caught up in the scam, and sent her my name address and cell phone number. Then I saw this site with the scam report, and immediately sent her (probably a him in real life) an email saying “do not send any money right now”, I need your company name and a contact number of your new job here in the states to verify your employment before you send the funds. Never heard back from her. Then, after thinking about how they tried to prick me around, I emailed her a copy of this site and report, just to let them know I am on to their shadyness. Here is one of 4 different scam letters I received. Thanks again for saving me lots of pain and anguish.

Yes,I’m quite comfortable with the available 1 bedroom apartment and it’s living environment.I’d have loved to call you but my cellphone service provider can’t access long distance/international calls.Hope we can get along together though I know it kinda hard expressing oneself via email,but I’ll put my pride in the gutters and try to be as explicit as possible.

I’m not coming with any pets… What is the present condition of the room? What paint color does it have? Is there any floral shop or farmer’s market around the area?How is the weather there?Its been raining for few days here..I like rain. Hope there are no leakages in the house(Roof and Pipes).lol

I’m a 27 yo professional lab technician.I’m 5’10,with long blond hair,hazel eyes ,athletic build.I prefer cleanliness than any other traits,I’m honest,responsible,and hardworking while I dislike lazy,messy and uncaring people.I love pets so much,am quiet and easy going. I’m straight and also gay friendly. I always love to go on a date but seldom party. I neither smoke nor drink,I swim for fun and sometimes play tennis also I enjoy snowboarding.People often ask how I manage to keep up my hectic schedule of work and maintain such a high level of correctness in all I do.I sometime overhear my Boyfriend Bach -he is the type of man who sings on coach trips,so you can quickly understand what sort of man I have to deal with-saying,almost in awe,’How does Shirley do it? chuff me,how does she do it?’ I must confess that i am comfortable with the price,I will like to secure the place down pending my arrival. I’ll also be shipping my things down to the States such as My Hyundai Sonata (SE V6 2011)which I’ve been using for over 2 months now,and some personal effects. don’t worry am not bringing in Furniture’s I will easily purchase the one’s I need when i arrive. Moreover,Let me know how I can go about securing the place down and filling any necessary paperwork before my arrival as i’ll be busy preparing to come over as I plan to arrive on Fri 21th Dec

Right now I have thought of it and understood that moving to the US will not only help boost my career but also improve my personal life.I hope you’ll finally consider renting to me ,I assure you that the rules and terms would be strictly adhered to .I have been introduced to different landlord and room owners but they don’t seem easy to get along with, I hope we can get along well as I wait to read from you soon via email.In life everything should be firm but friendly , not oatfish or obsequious as seems to be the present -day trend. Sorry for the email novel .I know its a lot to read and i apologize for coming on strong I’m just looking for a reliable place when I move down.I look forward to hearing positive from you again.

I have a Craigslist ad for a room in my house. Every time I run the ad I get several of the same scam emails. I wasn’t sure how exactly it was a scam but had a gut feeling. Thanks for clarifying with the details!

She claims to be from scotland and moving to canada at the end of the month to be a lab technician. Never once asked me to send photos of the apartment. Never once even signed the email with her name! I’ve been suspicious this whole time. She claimed to be single but the photo “she” sent me was entitled ” Me and my boyfriend” and looked too professional.

I kept asking to Skype with her so we could get to know each other etc and she’d never answer that question. Today she said she is having furniture delivered TONIGHT but I had to pay the $300 delivery fee via money gram to some Chinese woman in Florida. When I asked why she is getting furniture from florida she said that her uncle lives in Florida and that was how she was getting the car and furniture.

FedEx came with the cheque yesterday but I missed it so I have to get it today. The Tracking # says it started out in San Diego ( Funny since she’s from SCOTLAND) But here is the kicker of it all! It’s 5am my time (which would be around 10am scotland) and she just CALLED ME! She did not have a scotish accent but instead sounded of Asian decent and spoke very broken .english

Very glad I found this website!
You just saved me a lot of money and a lot of grief!
THANK YOU!

I’m so glad to hear the room is still available for rent. My full name
is Cecilia Ashley . Here is little information about myself, i speak
both English and German, am single, fun, loving, clean, and respectful
of others, don’t do drugs. My father is from Germany and my mother is
from US, am {25yrs old/f}. I was born in Munich Germany and i attend
Hamburg University of Technology Germany i graduated 2yrs ago. I’m
coming for a long term stay and am ready to sign a year lease as soon
as i get there but am presently on research work at Guam and will be
coming for my master’s degree starting from March but will be
arriving February 10th, I’ll like to pay for the deposit and a month rent…
I would have loved to call you but here is a remote area calls are
very hard to go through, so please try and understand and also I’ll
would have like to come and check the room before renting but am very
far… but with pictures that will makes me happy.

I’ll like you to tell me more about yourself and if you have garage or
parking space cos i will have my own car come over, please let me know
the total amount for the first month rent and payment will be done via
US Cashier’s & Certified Check. So I want you to feed me back with the
following details so that i can ensure you are ready to accept the payment.

INFORMATION TO FACILITATE THE MAILING OF THE CHECK

1* Full name :

2* Address {Not PO Box}:

3* City, State, Zip Code :

4* Cell number :

5* Month rent :

Waiting for your e-mail with the information requested so that i can
forward it to my father to issue out the check for the deposit and
month rent with that you can hold on the place for me till i come soon…

My name is Sonia David ,I am 26yrs old ,I am fun loving, personal, friendly,clean, caring,and respectful of others. a non-smoker, don’t do drugs but i drink occasionally.

I am coming for my masters degree. I was born in Mexico, my dad is from USA but my mum is from Mexico…I went to Universidad de Colima in Colima i speak both language ,am presently on research work at Guam, am almost done.with that bcos its part of my prerequisite for my masters in Legal Research . I would have loved to call you but this is a remote area calls is hard to go through from here and i don’t want to waste much time .Am really interested in renting from you and i do really love pets buti don’t have any at the moment. I would have loved to see it but am very far,but with pictures i am glad. I will also like you to tell me more about you and if you have garage or parking space cos I will have my own car , pls let me know the total payment of the place and i will like you to send me your full Name and the mailing address, your phone number as well,so that my Dad will issue out the payment for the place as soon as possible,with that you can hold on the place for me till i come very soon. I will be looking forward to your email soonest .

I’m so glad to hear the room is still available for rent. My name is
Jane Felix plove. Here is little about myself, i speak both Spanish
and English, am single, fun, loving, clean, and respectful of others,
don’t do drugs. My father is from USA and my mother is from Germany,
am (21yrs old, sex female). I was born in Munich Germany and i attend
Hamburg University of Technology Germany I just graduated and will be
coming for my master’s degree and i will be arriving Febuary 20th . I’m
coming for a long term stay and am ready to sign a year lease as soon
as i get there but am presently on research work at Guam. I’ll like to
pay for the deposit and a month rent… I would have loved to call you
but here is a remote area calls are very hard to go through, so please
try and understand and also I’ll would have like to come and check at
the room before renting but am very far… but with pictures that will
makes me happy. I’ll like you to tell me more about yourself and if
you have garage or parking space cos i will have my own car come over,
please let me know the total amount for the first month rent, cos i
will be paying the first month rent in advance and payment will be
done by via US Cashier’s & Certified Check. So I want you to feed me
back with the following details so that i can ensure you are ready to
accept the payment.

Look forward for your e-mail with the information requested so that
i can forward it to my father to issue out the check for the deposit
and month rent up front, with that you can hold on the place prior my
arrival…

Thanks for getting back to me. My full name is Ashley Connelly I’m
29yr .Female I was born in Ewa beach Hawaii, my Dad is from US while
my Mum is from China .I graduated from Georgia state university last
year. I’m fun loving, personal, friendly, clean,caring and respectful
of others, a non- smoker, don’t do drugs but i drink occasionally, am
single and have no children. I go to church every Sunday.I am coming
for my masters but am presently on research work in Guam, .I would
have loved to call you but this is a remote area calls is hard to go
through from here and i don’t want to waste much time. I’m really
interested in renting from you, i would have loved to see it but am
very far, with pictures i Will really appreciate it. I

really want you to tell me more about yourself and i will like to know
if you have a garage or parking space cos ill have my own car coming
over, please let me know the total payment of the place and all the
Utilities of the room, payment will be done via US Cashier or
Certified Check from a reputable Bank .The following details will be
needed so that the payment can be issue out right away,i will very
glad to read from you soon till then have a lovely day and God bless.

Kindly please get back to me with the information to facilitate the
mailing of the check.

Note:.. My Dad will issue out the payment for the deposit as soon as
possible, with that you can hold on the place for me till i arrive,
and payment will be Mail to your address via Ups or FedEx or Usps .
I’ll be waiting to read back from you with the information requested
today.

Just got this email and had a bad feeling about it. Thank you whoever made this website. This email is also identical to some of the other ones i see people have posted here.

On Tue, Feb 19, 2013 at 8:58 PM, Alicia James wrote:
Thanks for getting back to me … My name is Alicia James (F),I am
27yrs old,I am fun loving, personal, friendly,clean, caring,and
respectful of others. a non-smoker, don’t do drugs, i drink
occasionally,and drama free. I graduated last year in UK, I am single
and have no children … i do bible study, and sometimes we do karaoke
night with my roommate! i go to church every Sunday .I need to secure
this room for myself before i arrive to the state as I’ll be moving in
with my luggage.You seem to be a very interesting person to be with
and I must confess to you that you will enjoy staying with me in the
house because i make people smile always.I will be in the state
before Month End for the next one year and during my stay I am coming
for my masters degree. I was born in England (UK), my dad is from USA
but my mum is from England …I went to Greenwich university in London
i speak both French and English ,am presently on research work at Guam
(USA), am almost done.with that because its part of my perquisite for
my masters in Microbiology . I would have loved to call you but this
is a remote area, Calls is hard to go through from here and i don’t
want to waste much time .Am really interested in renting it from you
and i do really love pets but i don’t have any at the moment. I would
have loved to see it but am very far away,but with pictures,I am glad.
I will also like you to tell me more about you and if you have garage
or parking space cos I will have my own car come over, please let me
know the total payment of the place and more over I will send your
email to my dad for him to email you later because he is the one that
will be paying the bills but nevertheless,I will like you to send me
your………

Full Name
The Mailing Address including your Zip code
Your Phone number as well

So that my Dad will issue out the payment for the place as soon as
possible,with that you can hold on the place for me till i come . I
will be looking forward to your email soonest.
Regards.

sandraalex)@yahoo.com is another scammer. I had a gut feeling I’d find a dulicate letter on a site like this. Thanks for this site. Beware…lots of scams on Craigslist.

Hi again,

Thanks once again for the quick reply,I would have loved to call You but am leaving now to see my sick uncle ,i can only communicate through email but I will, whenever i get there but before that i will want to secure the place,I am very happy meeting a person like you,It ‘s nice reading from you again and i will never ever want to loose the room even without seeing the place ,i smell the kind of person whom you are and i like you,I will want You to know that i am okay with the cost ,if none is included again…..

I got to believe that the person that one wants to live with matters most,i believe that you’ll be a nice person,I just have my dressers,computer table,kitchen utensils and a queen size bed,2 big luggages and my car to be shipped….

I got a message that my uncle is sick in France and i have to go see him but i am making plans to secure place so that when i come back i’ll just move in into the place we are talking about. and with the way we ve communicated,I am okay with you and i want you to know that i don’t want to make any travel plans without securing a place down now,I will be signing a year lease for the start if you are okay with that,so i ve let my uncle understand more about you and the place,He is really comfortable and he told me that it is a nice area he had lived in the states before and he said that i should not afford to loose your place also he said that i should try and make sure that i hold down the place,so i thought of it and i will be making payment to hold down the place and the mode of payment will be the Most acceptable,easier,safer and reliable means of payment which is United State
Certified money order so pls let me know if this mode of payment is ok by you.

And if YES pls provide me with the following information to get the payment to you.Your full name as it will appear on the payment,your work place address to ensure delivery in your hands through regular mails or a courier service,your phone number on the package to avoid package missing in transit. I will prefer to send to your work address because you will always be available at work from morning till evening but if home address it will be sitting in your mail and no one will be at home to receive the package.And if you don’t receive package at your office address then I guess your home address will be good for the delivery right ? But to avoid any delay of you receiving at home then I guess any address will be fine as long as you will be able to receive it.

Kindly get back to me with this requested address contact information so that we can proceed ASAP bye for now..

Wow it’s crazy how they think of these…I put an ad on craigslist looking for 2 male roommates and I was bombarded with responses and 90 percent of them were female. And 2/3 of the female responses were from 23-27 year old girls that lived overseas and were coming here for a research program! I have responded to a couple of them and I wouldn’t of thought anything out of the ordinary until I read the second girls story. It was the exact same story as the first girl with the exception of her name and country!!! Word for word except for that!!! When I read that I immediately googled craigslist roommate scams and found your article. If the same scammer were smart enough to not send me the same email for 2 different girls, I never would’ve read your article and definitely would’ve fallen prey to this scam. Thank you so much for shedding some light on what I would’ve fell for!!!

I received duplicates of several already posted, plus this one. I hit my reply in all caps informing them that they have been reported, and WARNED not to mess with me.

Here’s Lucia’s BS story:

Hi,

Thanks so much for replying my add,I really do appreciate it,. I would have loved us to see before making any plan but i really have a lot of things to do right now,But will be okay if you can tell me more about the place and you,as my uncle is presently sick and i have to go see him,but really want to hold a place down…

More about me :My name is Marian Max,am Nurse with humanitarian assistance,I will be 28 by the 25th of next month,i love to live with clean people,caring,responsible,neat type. I’m 5″7′ straight,I like honest,responsible,trustworthy and hardworking people while I dislike lazy,messy,uncaring people and I love pets so much,am quiet and easy going person to live with. I don’t keep late nights neither will i have overnight guest around, but i am okay if you do,I was born and bread in France as there was where i had my university education and stays with my uncle there,but i am presently in south Dakota(U.s)

I lived all my life way in Paris before coming down to SD,I was in my final year when my mum died,i lost my dad before i was born,I grew up with my uncle after my mum died…I ve also wanted to be in the medical way since i was born,I served in the Paris Red Cross for 8 months,we have involved in projects that includes orphans,orphanages,heart related diseases in children between the ages of 4-10 yrs .

Ambition and Work:

I was looking to move over to your state because i understand that I’ll be doing good over there as i ve been told by my uncle’s friend who ones live over there..And i will be working with any hospital around as i am also making enquires about that now…

Am sure You ‘ll really like the person that i am ,because i will also do the dishing if you like,I work when i am to and relax when i am to,I also like sharing my thoughts also….paying rent on time will not be a problem as i will also be making the rent fee before the month ends….
Right now. I ve the support of my uncle about my well being,so you shouldn’t be bothered about if i am competent of paying the rent

I must confess am comfortable with the price and I will want to secure the place down before my arrival so i will want you to tell me all about the place,as i can’t see it before my arrival but the pictures…I also will want you to know that i have my car that i will be coming over with,and little of my furniture,please let me know if there will be room for them..

With all that i ve said above,I have told you more about me…Let me also know how i can go about securing the place down before my arrival as i will also be busy from next week preparing to come over and let me know if you can take off the ad off the site as i am going to secure the place with a deposit

Feel free to ask me any question and as i ve said,i am looking to move in by the first week in next month,but want to secured it now

Received 3 emails and the last 2 paragraphs are the same in all 3. Thank for getting back to me but to be honest with you i’m a very busy person and hard to get on phone, i’m sorry about that but the situation is beyond my control it’s the nature of my job ​ we are restricted from receiving and making of phone calls in this facility because it’s a federal research center but i will try to reply your text and give you a call as soon as i can.

But we don’t have to wait further we can proceed with the rental arrangement as planned to avoid further delay. That being said, I am okay with the rent fee quite reasonable and affordable., I’m trying to get everything set up as soon as i can because i don’t have much time to spend here again. So i have discuss about the room payment to my supervisor and he promise to make it up to you as soon as he have the necessary information that he will need to get the payment across to you. The check will be mail out to you via USPS priority mail delivery service and you will get it in couple of days.

Full name, so that the check can be made payable to you.
Contact address to mail the check to you.
Phone # you can be reach in case of emergency.

The check will get to you as soon as possible so that i can secure the place prior to my arrival. By the way my furniture won’t be a problem as i will be moving the ones that are not needed into my movers storage unit, I have dresser, queen size bed, brand new mattress, standing mirror, desk, side bed lamps, chandelier, cooking utensils, bed, mattress, dish washer, microwave, washing machine, dryer, i ​​have my Car, some Interior decorations ( Persian Rug, Paintings, Sculptor and other Art stuff).

Great to read the comments. I got four responses similar to the ones above, they sounded too similar and too good. I looked around and found this. It is always nice to have confirmation of your gut.

A sample or two:
Hi

I’m so glad to read back from you .I will not be able to come and
see the place now but picture will be okay the most important thing to
me is your location it really works for me, I could have love to call
you but i don’t have international calling plan but i will try to get
an international calling card to call you later in the week but i
believe we can still exchange emails for the main time or you call me
on my Land line number which is +447045712915 and make sure you dial
as presented.I’m sure i am the type of roommate you will like to stay
with ,I will like to tell you Lil about my self ,You can call me Sarah
Kayla and I’m single 23yrs old ,I was born in UK but presently in
Glasgow,I don’t smoke i don’t drink,I’m easy going person and i make
people around smile .I want to move in to the room in the next two
weeks or more that is why I’m trying to speed everything up.I’m
already doing my final project i have just been transfer from work to
your location and i will be much more than happy if you can rent out
the room to me ,I will also like to know little about you.

And another:
Good to hear back from you, i’m interested in renting the room. My
name is Laura Johnson i was born in France (Paris) i speak both French
& English, am single, fun, loving, clean, loyal and respectful of
others, don’t have any pet. More about me, my father is from US and my
mother is from France. I’m 22yrs old, sex female, i attend American
University of Paris, graduated a year ago.

I’m coming to stay for a year, and am coming for my master’s degree.
I’m currently in Alaska in a village “Nunivak Island” on a research
work and will be coming soon… I’ll be arriving May, i’ll loved to
call you but here is a remote area calls are very hard to go through,
please send me some picture of the room because i will not be able to
come over and check on it before renting.

Please tell me little about yourself…if you are a student?,
working?, married or single?, if there is a garage or parking space
because i will be coming with my own car. Let me know the total amount
for the first month rent, i will be paying upfront so that you can be
rest assured that am really interested in renting the room from you…

My mode of payment is US Check, so please feed me back with the
following details so that i can ensure you are ready to rent the room
to me.

and she continues in another email…

Thanks for getting back to me with the information requested. I got
the information and i’ll have it forward to my father to issue out
payment to you on time. I really appreciate that you are ready to
accept me roommate, please have little patience for the check to
arrive to your address and also secure the room prior my arrival. I’ll
e-mail by giving you an update about the status in regards to the
payment and also provide the tracking number from the carrier service,
further more i need you to take the ad down CL, that will give me a
strong prove that the room has been hold prior my arrival so that
other interested people will not make any enquirer..

Regarding my Car…. I’m planning on having it delivered to you
before my arrival so that you can come and pick me up at the airport
and settle in comfortably, you can understand that transiting cross
Atlantic is not easy so i am making arrangement with the car dealer to
deliver the car before my arrival, once the rent and security deposit
has been paid to you by my father. I’ll ask you for a favor here, can
i rely on you to take delivery of the car for me when it’s delivered
?, as you’ll be handling the delivery of the car along with the rent
and deposit, the car money has been included with the check coming to
you. I’ll really appreciate if you can do this for me and promise to
compensate you adequately for your time and efforts on my arrival into
your place.

Let me know at once if i can trust you to have the rest fund to the
car dealership agent once you get the check, i will be expecting your
e-mail as soon as you receive my e-mail. Thanks so much for your
understanding…

My scammer’s name is Sharon Peters. Her email is sharonpeters0@yahoo.com. The email she send me had way to much information about her life. I found it odd. The reason of giving you so much info. is so you start feeling empathy for her. I decided to Google her info and found that someone posted about her and the way she scam ppl. She mention if there was space for her clothes, kitchen stuff and a car. She wanted my address at work in order to sent me a check.
I hope that no one falls for these types of scam.

I am so happy I stumbled onto your blog. I have received THREE of the same stories mentioned here!! I didnt know what to think. I thought it was weird that they had no interest in meeting me or seeing the place first. They all had the same general story. Lived out of the country, needed to know about parking because they were having their car sent over. I asked one specifically why she wanted to move to my area and that I would not receive a check over the amount of rent I was charging ($500) and never got another e-mail from her. Thank you so much for all the helpful information as I am a very nice and naive person and probably would have fallen prey to these scammers. THANK YOU!!

Thanks for the info.
I put an ad on Craigslist and someone with a very similar story contacted me. They said they were sending a car from overseas and that they were going to send a check and asked if I would pick up the car etc. and they will reimburse me. I requested several times to speak with them on the phone but they never would call. I too felt funny about it so I told them to forget it. Be very careful lots of scammers out there.

Hello,
Thanks for getting back to me… My name is Diana Arteta (F),I am
24yrs old,I am fun loving, personal, friendly,clean and respectful of
others. A non-smoker, don’t do drugs, i drink occasionally,and drama
free. I graduated last year in France. I am single and have no
children… I do bible study, and sometimes we do karaoke night with
my roommate! i go to church every Sunday.
Am coming for my masters degree. I was born in Spain,Malaga(Los
Asperones), my dad is from USA but my mum is from Malaga…I went to
Málaga University (UMA) i speak both España and English ,am presently
on research work at Guam (USA), am almost done with the research. Am
doing it because its part of prerequisite for my masters in
Microbiology. I would have loved to call you but this is a remote area
calls is hard to go through from here and i don’t want to waste much
time.
Am really interested in renting from you and i don’t really love
pets but i don’t care if there is any in the house. I would have loved
to see it but am very far,but with pictures,I am glad. I will also
like you to tell me more about you and if you have garage or parking
space because I will have my own car come over, please let me know the
total payment of the place and more over I will send your email to my
dad for him to email you later because he is the one that will be
paying the bills but nevertheless,I will like you to send me your full
Name and the mailing address, your phone number as well,so that my Dad
will issue out the payment for the place as soon as possible,with
that you can hold on the place for me till i come. I will be looking
forward to your email soonest. Thanks and have a nice day.

Best Regards,
Diana Arteta
615) 601-0579 Text me with the requested information for the payment

I can’t believe how stupid I’ve been. I’ve been dealing with this “girl” from Guam for about a week now. We’ve exchanged emails and texts but I still haven’t spoken to her. She’s been pretty good about sending me quick responses but since I haven’t been able to get her to call me I’ve been extremely suspicious. I’m a really trusting person, clearly to a fault, and all my friends have been telling me this is a scam from day one. Well I’m glad I started googling this “Diana Arteta” because this site came up and Will’s post on August 15th is EXACTLY the same email I was sent to initiate contact.

Hello,
Thanks for getting back to me, My name is Tessa Russell Morgan.
I am 30yrs old.I’m fun-loving, personal,friendly,clean, caring,and
respectful of others.A non smoker,don’t do drugs,not a drinker and
drama free. I’ve been searching and searching for two weeks for a
place and been having no luck,Males/females doesn’t matter as well as
homes with a lot of roommates. I graduated last year.I am single and
have no children.However, I don’t have Pets. I’m coming for my
masters degree.I was born in Virginia Beach in Virginia. My dad is
from there too but my mum is from Canada.I’m on research work at Guam
(USA), I’m almost done with that because its part of my prerequisite
for my masters in Micro Biology .I would have loved to call you but I
am not my mobile have been disconnected due to moving out of Guam.I’m
really interested in renting from you and I want to know everything
about the place. I do really love pets but I don’t have any at the
moment.I would have loved to see it but I’m very far,but with
pictures,I am glad.I will also like you to tell me more about yourself
and if you have pets. I don’t smoke.Please let me know the total
payment of the place and moreover I will send your email to my dad for
him to email you later because He’s the one that will be paying the
bills ( Rent and deposit fees ), but nevertheless,

Kindly get back to me with your information below:

First Name:
Last Name:
Full address: Not P.O.BOX
City:
State:
Postal Code:
Total Amount For A Month :
Phone Number: That i can send text message so that my Dad will issue
out the payment (Cashier Check) for the place as soon as possible,with
that you can hold on the place for me till I come.Thanks and have a
nice day.

I am so glad I found this. From the beginning I thought this girl I found was fishy but I wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt (dumb me) but thank god I have such a good bank and I was able to catch it on time before I spent anything. I seem to keep having bad luck finding good legitimate roommates.

This “girl was from Germany who lived in Guam for a research project and she was moving to my area but before she came she wanted me to buy this car for her because it was going to be delivered at my place.”

i think i found a new one..this girl said she was a photographer and was away on a photography assignment. then she goes on as says that she is half mexican and half spanish..i started to get a funny feeling…so i started speaking to her in spainish and she didnt know what i was saying…hmmmmmmm..legit or not legit? here’s our convo..

Hi, Thanks for getting back to me sooner.I am happy to hear that the place is still available to rent out , I am not a student i am self employed. I am into cinematography and i do other businesses ,I am sure paying my house rent won’t be any problem for me.I am ok with the rent charges., do you have internet there? how much will the internet cost.

You must be interested in knowing more about me , I love reading , staying indoor, Love traveling right now i am on a tour to Egypt on a cinematography and photography work , i love going beach and meeting new people, got no bf but hopefully i might one too because i just break up with my boyfriend which so i am just getting over it ,i have never rented a room or a house before because i have lived with ma family all of my life, i mixed race , Spain and Mexico.i wish i have my picture on this computer i would have send one to you . Will the house cleaning arrangement will be made by me ? i have no problem cleaning the house and have no problem living with other potential roommate if available. I will be happy if you can rent this place t me .i am sure the house will be in good condition for you to have posted it online if you can guarantee me on that. Tell me about the cleaning arrangement., How much will the deposit be ,Do you need me to pay a deposit or advance payment for me to be able to secure the place. I wait to hear from you

her..Hi , How are you doing today , am glad to receive an email from you , Well i am ok with the amount charge, i am willing to make the deposit down to you so as to be able to hold the room for me , send me your full name, home address and phone number where the deposit will be mailed to

I have gotten two emails from girls out of the country wanting to rent my room, total scams. The names are Michelle Mason and Klara Johnson and the emails they sent are the exact same except for the names and locations.

Both “in remote places”, parents from two different countries, requested personal info like name, address, phone number. This is indicative of a scam. Just ignore them.

One on Roomster.com (same as encountered by Marcus Martin’s post on Sept 12, 2013)

Debbie She has a roomster.com account and says that she doesn’t have a full membership account so she leaves her phone and email address instead. Found her email address by seaching google and it took me here.

Same here: Debbie Rose from easyroommate.com in Los Angeles. Here’s the text of ‘her’ response:

Hi, Thanks for getting back to me sooner.I am happy to hear that the place is still available to rent out , I am not a student i am self employed. I am into cinematography and i do other businesses ,I am sure paying my house rent won’t be any problem for me.I am ok with the rent charges., do you have internet there? how much will the internet cost.

You must be interested in knowing more about me , I love reading , staying indoor, Love traveling right now i am on a tour to Egypt on a cinematography and photography work , i love going beach and meeting new people, got no bf but hopefully i might one too because i just break up with my boyfriend which so i am just getting over it ,i have never rented a room or a house before because i have lived with ma family all of my life, i mixed race , Spain and Mexico.i wish i have my picture on this computer i would have send one to you . Will the house cleaning arrangement will be made by me ? i have no problem cleaning the house and have no problem living with other potential roommate if available. I will be happy if you can rent this place t me .i am sure the house will be in good condition for you to have posted it online if you can guarantee me on that. Tell me about the cleaning arrangement., How much will the deposit be ,Do you need me to pay a deposit or advance payment for me to be able to secure the place. I wait to hear from you

Just got the email from Debrosass@hotmail.com today. It was the email address which made me wonder cause she said she wasn’t part of the roommate.com, but roommates listed her as a premium member?
After reading Marcus message, how does a photographer not have one pictures posted of themselves? Also my ad states I have no interest in anyone outside of the country or my State, and if they can not meet us at the location we choose, then forget. She left a phone number too where she could be reached. did anyone else get a email address like this with a phone number? phone number looks like LA. area code.

Hi, Thanks for getting back to me sooner.I am happy to hear that the place is still available to rent out , I am not a student i am self employed. I am into cinematography and i do other businesses ,I am sure paying my house rent won’t be any problem for me.I am ok with the rent charges., do you have internet there? how much will the internet cost.

You must be interested in knowing more about me , I love reading , staying indoor, Love traveling right now i am on a tour to Egypt on a cinematography and photography work , i love going beach and meeting new people, got no bf but hopefully i might one too because i just break up with my boyfriend which so i am just getting over it ,i have never rented a room or a house before because i have lived with ma family all of my life, i mixed race , Spain and Mexico.i wish i have my picture on this computer i would have send one to you . Will the house cleaning arrangement will be made by me ? i have no problem cleaning the house and have no problem living with other potential roommate if available. I will be happy if you can rent this place t me .i am sure the house will be in good condition for you to have posted it online if you can guarantee me on that. Tell me about the cleaning arrangement., How much will the deposit be ,Do you need me to pay a deposit or advance payment for me to be able to secure the place. I wait to hear from you

I got an email last night from a girl in Scotland wanting to finish her master’s degree. I was skeptical then because my apartment is 45 minutes away from the university in my town. But I replied anyways. I woke up this morning to 3 more similar emails supposedly from different people ( 1 was a girl frkm Spain

Hi Guys,
I have received these emails on 10/27/2013:
………………………………………………………………….
I’m so glad to hear the room is still available for rent. My full
name is Aida Howard. Here is little about myself, i speak both English
and German, am single, fun, loving, clean, and respectful of others,
don’t do drugs. My father is from UK (London) and my mother is from US
(New York), I’m { 26yrs old/F }. I was born in United Kingdom and i
attended University of Oxford Class of 2012 · Oxford, Oxfordshire. I
graduated last year.

I’m coming for a long term stay and am ready to sign a year lease as
soon as i get there but am presently on research work at Guam and will
be coming for my master’s degree starting from November. I’ll like to
pay for the deposit and a month rent… I would have loved to call you
but here is a remote area, Calls are very hard to go through, so
please try and understand and also I would have loved to come and
check out the room but i won’t be able due to the short time i have
left here.

So if you have the picture of the room and surrounding, I’ll feel
better if you could send me.

I’ll love to know a little about yourself and if you have garage or
parking space cos i will have my own car come over, please let me know
the total amount for the first month rent and payment will be done by
US Cashier’s & Certified Check. So I want you to keep me posted with
the following details so that I can ensure you are ready to accept the
payment.

Waiting for your e-mail with the information requested so that i can
forward it to my Dad to issue out the check for the deposit and month
rent with that you can hold on the place for me till i come soon…

Thanks
………………………………………………………………….
Thanks so much for your quick response…here is little about
myself,my name is Mellisa Johnson, i speak both French & English, am
single,fun, loving, clean, and respectful of others, don’t do drugs.My
father is from US and my mother is from France, am 24yrs old, sex
female. I was born in France (Paris) and i attend American University
of Paris, graduated a year ago.I’m coming for a long term stay and am
ready to sign a year lease in person on the day of my arrival as soon
as i get to your house, but am presently on research work at Guam and
will be coming for my master’s
degree from soon. I’ll be arriving Nov 20th. and pay for the deposit
and one month rent upfront, loved to call you but here is a remote
area calls are very hard to go through,and also love to come and check
at the room before renting but am very far, with pictures that will
makes me happy and feel comfortable.

Please tell me little about yourself…if you are a student?,working?,
married or single?, if there is a garage or parking space because i
will be coming with my own car. Let me know the total amount for the
first month rent, because i will be paying upfront so that it will
give you strong prove that am really interested in renting the room
from you. Payment will be done via US Cashier’s or Certified Check, so
please feed me back with the following details so that i can ensure
you are ready to rent the room to me.

I’ll be waiting to read back from you with the information requested
so that i can forward it to my father to issue out the check for the
deposit and month rent up front as soon as possible, with that you can
hold on the place prior my arrival… Thanks for your co-operation

Another part of this scam, especially those that send you pix of themselves, is that if you send them the info asked for – full name, address, etc you could potentially get a let from an “attorney” telling you that you violated the federal housing discrimination laws and that they will proceed to sue you in federal court but this can be “settled” with a payment (buyoff) of $5K. After they have sent the pix they will use all sorts of delay tactics until you find another renter and then proceed with the lawsuit part of the scam.

If you are renting a room in your own home you do not violate any housing laws by being selective in who you rent to.

I posted a sublease ad on craigslist in Chalreston, IL. I got a couple of replies, but i like to do things on a first come first serve basis. Too bad for me. I almost fell for it. She said she was in guam doing research but she was origionally from Spain, and that she was going to have a car delivered to my house, and that her father would send me a check for the amount 3500 for the car delivery and the deposit for my room and first month rent. I recieved the check and they she was pushing for me to deposit it and send a money gram to an address in PA for the car. She gave me the ‘name’ and address of the sales person she was dealing with. I looked up the address and found a phone number for it. When I called the place, they said that no one by the name I was asking for worked there. Then to ‘reassure’ me. Her ‘father’ called and talked to me. probably just another pawn in the scam.
I can’t believe I almost fell for it…

‘her’ name is Kate Jackson and here is one of the emails she sent me while I was working on falling for it.

Hello,

Good day to you. How are you doing today ? I want you to know that
the check of $3,500 is on the way to be deliver to your residence
soon. Here is the usps tracking number of the package you are to
receive ( 9405501699320011024869 ). You can have it track at usps.com
or iship.com/trackit to know when the check will get to you soon.

This is what i need you to do for me, you are to take the check to
your bank and have it deposited into your bank account, calculate your
own cost and the rest funds goes for my car.. So i need you to pls
help with the car money today. So once you have the check deposited,
You are to withdraw the sum of ($1850) for my car delivery or easily
use your debit card to do the transfer and look or a nearest Money
Gram store and have it send to the car dealer agent, so that the car
delivery can take place as soon as possible… The car is coming with
all the necessary paper and it’s a Red Toyota Camry 2011 Model.

HERE IS THE CAR DEALER AGENT INFORMATION YOU ARE TO WIRE THE MONEY
VIA MONEY GRAM MONEY TRANSFER BELOW :

Note: You are to deduct the money gram transfer charges from the
money you are sending to the car dealer agent and choose money gram
Service MONEY IN MINUTE to send the money so that the agent can get
the money same day.

I’ll love to know if you need any more explanation and when you will
be getting the money transfer done ???. Waiting for your swift
response as soon as you receive my message.

Hi, Thanks for getting back to me sooner.I am happy to hear that the place is still available to rent out , I am not a student i am self employed. I am into cinematography and i do other businesses ,I am sure paying my house rent won’t be any problem for me.I am ok with the rent charges., do you have internet there? how much will the internet cost.

You must be interested in knowing more about me , I love reading , staying indoor, Love traveling right now i am on a tour to Egypt on a cinematography and photography work , i love going beach and meeting new people, got no bf but hopefully i might one too because i just break up with my boyfriend which so i am just getting over it ,i have never rented a room or a house before because i have lived with ma family all of my life, i mixed race , Spain and Mexico.i wish i have my picture on this computer i would have send one to you . Will the house cleaning arrangement will be made by me ? i have no problem cleaning the house and have no problem living with other potential roommate if available. I will be happy if you can rent this place t me .i am sure the house will be in good condition for you to have posted it online if you can guarantee me on that. Tell me about the cleaning arrangement., How much will the deposit be ,Do you need me to pay a deposit or advance payment for me to be able to secure the place. I wait to hear from you

Curious – Has anybody received an inquiry with a link to a facebook page? A 22yr old female coming from England to do anthropology research in the US who is currently a secretary at an art firm. I have messaged her on facebook and some of her friends for legitimacy many of whom seem to have degrees from US colleges.

Same here! Her name was is Brenda Cole/Christie Woodley, same letter same scam. Mother is ill with cancer and having her car shipped over and some of her “stuffs”. Cape Town, South Africa is where she is from.
Good thing I checked it out. It was a reported scam from Craigs List.
Offered to secure the room with a US money order.
BEWARE!!!! This is a huge scam!!!!!!!!

Yep, One tried it on my as well when I was looking for jobs on Craigslist as a Front End/Receptionist. This is the number they gave me saying his name was Basset, 615-601-0579. I reported this guy to the FBI so hopefully that one is gone at least! Good luck and beware of these ignorant people!

Happy Sunday,
Thanks for getting back to me… My name is Diana Arteta (F),I am
24yrs old,I am fun loving, personal, friendly,clean and respectful of
others. A non-smoker, don’t do drugs, i drink occasionally,and drama
free. I graduated last year in France. I am single and have no
children… I do bible study, and sometimes we do karaoke night with
my roommate! i go to church every Sunday.
Am coming for my masters degree. I was born in Spain,Malaga(Los
Asperones), my dad is from USA but my mum is from Malaga…I went to
Málaga University (UMA) i speak both España and English ,am presently
on research work at Guam (USA), am almost done with the research. Am
doing it because its part of prerequisite for my masters in
Microbiology. I would have loved to call you but this is a remote area
calls is hard to go through from here
and i don’t want to waste much time.
Am really interested in renting from you and i don’t really love
pets but i don’t care if there is any in the house. I would have loved
to see it but am very far,but with pictures,I am glad. I will also
like you to tell me more about you and if you have garage or parking
space because I will have my own car come over, please let me know the
total payment of the place and more over I will send your email to my
dad for him to email you later because he is the one that will be
paying the bills but nevertheless,I will like you to send me your full
Name and the mailing address, your phone number as well,so that my Dad
will issue out the payment for the place as soon as possible,with
that you can hold on the place for me till i come. I will be looking
forward to your email soonest. Thanks and have a nice day.

This is the last email from her. After this email I stoped to send email.

How are you doing today?The payment has been sent out to you will
delivered to you soon,thanks so much for the patient on the payment,i
will email you with the tracking # soon and also i will like to make
you know all paper work will be sign in person on my arrival day if
there is any to sign.
As regards my car,i am planning on having it delivered to the
house before my arrival so that i can settle in comfortably,you can
understand that transiting cross Atlantic is not easy so i am making
arrangement with the car dealer to deliver the car before my arrival
after the rent and security deposit has been paid to you by my Dad. I
will ask you for a favor here,can i rely on you to take delivery of
the car for me when its delivered.I will instruct the car dealer to
contact you to schedule a delivery time that will be convenient for
you to receive the car for me .As you will be handling the delivery of
the car with the rent and deposit to be sent to you so that you can
help me handle the delivery payment for the car…the delivery payment
has been included with the Check coming to you.I will really
appreciate if you can do this for me and promise to compensate you
adequately for your time and efforts on my arrival in your place.

Thank you Mke for the info. You were right, gut check said scam all the way. I kept pushing for references and pay stubs and never got a respomce or if I did get a responce she avoided the question all together. Finially I figured something was up before it was too late.

For everyone else here’s the email I recieved.

is the room still available…???…Kindly reply me back via (bethdtdz@gmail.com) with the total amount to move in with the deposit Thanks

Diana

Hello,
Thanks for getting back to me… My name is Diana Arteta (F),I am 26yrs old,I am fun loving, personal, friendly,clean and respectful of others. A non-smoker, don’t do drugs, i drink occasionally,and drama free. I graduated last year in France. I am single and have no children… I do bible study, and sometimes we do karaoke night with my roommate! i go to church every Sunday.
Am coming for my masters degree. I was born in Spain,Malaga(Los Asperones), my dad is from USA but my mum is from Malaga…I went to Málaga University (UMA) i speak both España and English ,am presently on research work at Guam (USA), am almost done with the research. Am doing it because its part of prerequisite for my masters in Microbiology. I would have loved to call you but this is a remote area calls is hard to go through from here and i don’t want to waste much time.
Am really interested in renting from you and i don’t really love pets but i don’t care if there is any in the house. I would have loved to see it but am very far,but with pictures,I am glad. I will also like you to tell me more about you and if you have garage or parking space because I will have my own car come over, please let me know the total payment of the place and more over I will send your email to my dad for him to email you later because he is the one that will be paying the bills but nevertheless,I will like you to send me your full Name and the mailing address, your phone number as well,so that my Dad will issue out the payment for the place as soon as possible,with that you can hold on the place for me till i come. I will be looking forward to your email soonest. Thanks and have a nice day.
Best Regards,
Diana Arteta
615 601-0579 TEXT ONLY

I am currently talking to a girl from Guam her name is Julie Chad. She sent me a check today and wants me to moneygram most of it to someone in texas for her car payment. I am thinking this is a scam. i told her i needed the phone number for the people i am sending the money to and told her that i ahve to wait for the check to clear the bank when i really never put it in the bank yet. Just is a little fishy after reading these stories. Some help please has anyone come across a girl named Julie Chad? HELP!

I have an ad on Craig’s list and have been getting numerous emails. Brenda Cole, Kaylee Lester, Jenny(Jennifer William) and countless others. Also, 1 from another country. They start with wanting to know more about the room or they want to know more about you and then they reply with one story or another about doing research and their dad will pay for the room and all the bills. I received 3 from Jennifer in the same day. All coming from different email addresses; but wanting me to reply to fandland2002@gmail.com They all want my full name, address and phone and to please facilitate so the funds could be sent. One person had a green card and was going to look for a job when she got here. Hmmmm how would a person get a green card without a job or someone sponsoring them. I asked them all to go to my ad on rentler.com and apply there so I would feel easier about it after a background and credit check is done. Not one person applied. I caught on to it pretty quick since I was getting so many with the same story from different people and the wording changed just a bit. I was curious and googled scams from Guam for rooms and came up with this link. I just thought I would add my 2 cents (or book). Sorry so long.

I’ve gotten a lot of these scams on craigslist. The common factors in a scammer’s email: lots of mispellings, person is out of town and can’t see the place before renting it, they have a sob story, no verifiable income, but a rich relative who wants to close the deal fast.
Also, I was contacted by bethdtdz@gmail.com today. Thanks to your webpage, I knew not to reply to her. Thank you!

Just got a similar one – thought it sounded suspicious. Thanks for this post (and the comments) for confirming my suspicions. Here’s the email so future users can compare:

Thanks so much for your quick reply, I’m interested in renting the room. My name is Beth Arteta i was born in France (Paris) i speak both French & English, am single, fun, loving, clean, loyal and respectful of others, don’t have any pet. More about me, my father is from US and my mother is from France. I’m 24yrs old, sex female, i attend American University of Paris, graduated a year ago.
I’m coming to stay for a year, and am coming for my master’s degree.I’m currently in Alaska in a village “Nunivak Island” on a research work and will be coming soon… I’ll be arriving March Ending i’ll loved to call you but here is a remote area calls are very hard to go through, please send me some picture of the room because i will not be able to come over and check on it before renting.
Please tell me little about yourself…if you are a student?,working?, married or single?, if there is a garage or parking space because i will be coming with my own car. Let me know the total amount for the first month rent, i will be paying upfront so that you can be rest assured that am really interested in renting the room from you…
My mode of payment is US Check, so please feed me back with the following details so that i can ensure you are ready to rent the room
to me.

I’ll be waiting to read back from you with the information requested so that i can forward it to my father to issue out the check for the deposit and month rent upfront as soon as possible, with that you can hold on the place prior my arrival… Thanks for your co-operation

Hey Charles,
I got the same one today… good thing I looked it up when I felt that things were suspicious…. Here is he email she sent me:

Thanks for getting back to me… My name is Kaylee Lester (F),I am 24yrs old,I am fun loving, personal, friendly,clean and respectful of others. A non-smoker, don’t do drugs, i drink occasionally,and drama free. I graduated last year in France. I am single and have no children… I do bible study, and sometimes we do karaoke night with my roommate! i go to church every Sunday. Am coming for my masters degree. I was born in Spain,Malaga(Los Asperones), my dad is from USA but my mum is from Malaga…I went to Málaga University (UMA) i speak both España and English ,am presently on research work at Guam (USA), am almost done with the research. Am doing it because its part of prerequisite for my masters in Microbiology. I would have loved to call you but this is a remote area calls is hard to go through from here and i don’t want to waste much time.
Am really interested in renting from you and i don’t really love pets but i don’t care if there is any in the house. I would have loved to see it but am very far,but with pictures,I am glad. I will also like you to tell me more about you and if you have garage or parking space because I will have my own car come over, please let me know the total payment of the place and more over I will send your email to my dad for him to email you later because he is the one that will be paying the bills but nevertheless,I will like you to send me your full Name and the mailing address, your phone number as well,so that my Dad will issue out the payment for the place as soon as possible,with that you can hold on the place for me till i come. I will be looking forward to your email soonest.

Thank You so much for this post! i recently received this email from a potential “renter”

Thanks for getting back to me with the information I requested. I got
the information and i’ll have it forward to my father to issue out
payment to you on time. I really appreciate that you are ready to
accept me roommate, please have little patience for the check to
arrive to your address and also secure the room prior my arrival. I’ll
e-mail by giving you an update about the status in regards to the
payment and also provide the tracking number from the carrier service,
further more i need you to take the ad down CL, that will give me a
strong prove that the room has been hold prior my arrival so that
other interested people will not make any enquirer..

Regarding my Car…. I’m planning on having it delivered to you
before my arrival so that you can come and pick me up at the airport
and settle in comfortably, you can understand that transiting cross
Atlantic is not easy so i am making arrangement with the car dealer to
deliver the car before my arrival, once the rent and security deposit
has been paid to you by my father. I’ll ask you for a favor here, can
i rely on you to take delivery of the car for me when it’s delivered
?, as you’ll be handling the delivery of the car along with the rent
and deposit, the car money has been included with the check coming to
you. I’ll really appreciate if you can do this for me and promise to
compensate you adequately for your time and efforts on my arrival into
your place.

Let me know at once if i can trust you to have the rest fund to the
car dealership agent once you get the check, i will be expecting your
e-mail as soon as you receive my e-mail. Thanks so much for your
understanding…

katewilliams2612@gmail.com Is another email to add to the list! I cannot express how grateful I am for this article and all of the people that have posted!! I was almost a victim my self! Has any one else have them tell you that they are going to have there car delivered to you beforehand?!!?! THAT REALLY SENT UP THE RED FLAGS,!!!

Just got this one: “text only”was another flag :
Thanks for getting back to me… My name is Kaylee Lester (F),I am
24yrs old,I am fun loving, personal, friendly,clean and respectful of
others. A non-smoker, don’t do drugs, i drink occasionally,and drama
free. I graduated last year in France. I am single and have no
children… I do bible study, and sometimes we do karaoke night with
my roommate! i go to church every Sunday. Am coming for my masters
degree. I was born in Spain,Malaga(Los Asperones), my dad is from USA
but my mum is from Malaga…I went to Málaga University (UMA) i speak
both España and English ,am presently on research work at Guam (USA),
am almost done with the research. Am doing it because its part of
prerequisite for my masters in Microbiology. I would have loved to
call you but this is a remote area calls is hard to go through
from here and i don’t want to waste much time.
Am really interested in renting from you and i don’t really love
pets but i don’t care if there is any in the house. I would have loved
to see it but am very far,but with pictures,I am glad. I will also
like you to tell me more about you and if you have garage or parking
space because I will have my own car come over, please let me know the
total payment of the place and more over I will send your email to my
dad for him to email you later because he is the one that will be
paying the bills but nevertheless,I will like you to send me your full
Name and the mailing address, your phone number as well,so that my Dad
will issue out the payment for the place as soon as possible,with that
you can hold on the place for me till i come. I will be looking
forward to your email soonest.

Omg!!! thank you soo much! I got many responses to my roomate ad, and the one I was gonna go with was this girl from the UK and she had asked for my name and address for her to send the amount to reserve the room I will forward this email to my dad for he will be the one paying for my rent… I was gonna fall for it but all of a sudden I got another email from a girl 3 years older than the other saying basically the exact same thing but different story.. sorry I can’t call I’m in an area that has horrible connection but I’d love to reserve the room my dad will be responsible for my rent payment give me your information and he will send it right away.

Now I’m disapointed because I need a roomate in 2 days and have nobody else that I am interested in.. I definitely will be meeting any potential roomates in person.

When you cash the check, the check will bounce after a few days because it’s fake so you won’t get any money. The scammer is hoping that you’ll send YOUR money to them before you realize its a fake check.

Thank you for putting this post “out there”. My only wish is that we would have found it 10 days ago.
My kind hearted, naïve, think the best out of everyone daughter, was just scammed out of thousands to help “Kaylee Lester” get her car here from overseas to take over the room/rent in her apartment. She received a second check from “Kaylee” just this morning. Wounded Ego and Mike, thank you for the last two posts. She is holding on to the second check to give to the authorities today. She spent hours at the local police station last night and reported it to MoneyGram.

She did all the right things before she sent out the MoneyGram, she thought; contacted the bank on the check from “Kaylee Lester” making sure the account was active and had sufficient funds, got more info from “Kaylee” about other things and it all checked out. These guys are thorough. I was going to say good, but they do not deserve such a word to describe them. They were able to cancel the check after it was in our daughter’s account for 5 days. The text she got this morning even had the audacity to say “I don’t get off with people money at all…” Mike I can’t thank you enough for putting this out there so that others may not be scammed out of their money. Our daughter is going to school full time, trying to keep her grades up for the scholarship money (which she has just been scammed out of every dime) working three jobs, and doing countless volunteer work to help others.
I hope that others find your site before, rather than after they are scammed. We are heart broken, shocked and sick, (yes embarrassed too) wondering what to do next about needed money and stopping these crooks so no one else will be hurt.

this is horrible, I’m so thankful I caught this. I got suspicious when I got two emails that were way too similar. I’m on such a tight budget as a college student, this would have been devastating. thank you for posting this!

I just got scammed. I wish I would have seen this a day or two ago. I thought since the deposit did not say “pending” anymore that the check had cleared. Boy was I wrong. There goes everything I have. The reason I was looking for a roommate was to save money. Not get ripped off. If this is so prevalent, why hasn’t the FBI figured something out. The government bails out messed up morgages but what about bailing out an innocent victim trying to make ends meet? This is ridiculous. I’m such an idiot.

Thank you for this website! I already had my suspicions, but this just made me realize it waa a total scam. Beware of anyone going by Anna Noyes with the email: sebbx23ed@gmail.com.Same as many other posters on this site, she said she was going to have her car shipped and I needed to pay for it, so her dad was sending me a bank check and I needed to send money bank through a moneygram. They even went as far as to have her “dad” email me! His email is niner455@gmail.com.

If anyone is needing a room in Oklahoma I have a place. I was almost scammed also. So maybe a person on here won’t try to do the same thing. My number is 405-239-4454 feel free to call. I will speak with you about the place.

I have a room to rent in Austin. I did the google search because I’m getting tons of emails from women supposedly overseas sending pics sometimes. I don’t care how cute you are. I am 58 have an awesome 30 yr old female roommate moving out to live with her boyfriend. I’m not interested in young girls. Thank you for posting. I’m going to change my ad to say must be able to meet in person.

Here’s the one that tried to scam me. What caught my eye was all most funny. See if you can find it.

My name is Melissa Douglass from Germany, i speak both German &
English, am single, easy going person, loving, clean, and respectful
of others, don’t do drugs. My father is from USA while my mother is
from Germany , am 24yrs old, sex female. I was born in Stuttgart
(Arkansas) and i attend University of Stuttgart, and graduated last
year… I have my B.Sc and I’m coming for a long term stay and am
ready to sign a year lease as soon as i get to your house. I’m
currently in Alaska in a village “Nunivak Island” on a research work
and will be coming soon for my master’s degree and i will be arriving
June 1. I’ll loved to call you but here is a remote area calls are
very hard to go through, please send me some picture of the room
because i will not be able to come over and check on it before
renting.

Did you see it? I thought Stuttgart was in Germany, not Arkansas. When I asked which school she going to the E-mails stopped.

This person is still around I got the same email as you. I am renting a room in Irvine, California. EVERYTHING in the email is still the same, except that her name was Rose Anderson and said she was going to get her car delivered and her dad was going to mail me a check for $3,500 she wanted me to deposit and take out $1,400 to take to wire through Western Union to another account. I waited to receive the check and realized it was fake and told her the bank told me the check was false and acted innocent and asked what was going on and the replies stopped.

Can’t believe this Roommate scam is still going on! It happened to me in 2009 and I was getting wise to the whole thing and when the money orders arrived, I took them to my bank and warned them that I thought they were bogus! They confirmed that quickly. I then reported the incident to my local police department and they said it happens all the time. Today my significant other was almost the victim of a Microsoft scam. They call you and reference the computer not functioning properly and they can do diagnostics tests for $200. The actual tests are Free but they want the $200 for a registration fee. I definitely felt it was a scam and had a local police officer come out and he said “Yes”. Whenever someone starts talking about money orders, something is fishy. A whole day was wasted but hopefully a disaster with the computer averted. They kept on calling back 6-7 times while the officer was here — another sign that it was not legit! I also googled Microsoft scams and it was there. The general public needs to be smart about checking for scams!!!

I am so glad Mike has posted this and all who left their responses. After a few email exchanges I send her my name, address and phone, and her last email follows. The subject line was: CONFIRM THE RECEIPT OF THIS MAIL!!!response needed. I think I will not respond at all, and hope that’s the end of this scam. Thank you again Mike.

Thank you for your response back concerning this unit.My
work shipped me off to a remote area and i had absolutely no phone or
internet services.Again,i am so sorry! I work out of town so I leave
early and return home in the late evening.I am very active on the
weekends with working out and social events.I will call you tomorrow
after work,and we can discuss it further as you like.My Dad insists to
call and arrange with you to send payment this week.You can send me
the lease application to enable me review it ahead of time.i would
eventually have it signed physically when i arrive at your place.In my
opinion,appending signature should be done properly and at best
physically.With this arrangement,my Dad will mail your payment deposit
to you.i hope something can be worked out to ensure every arrangements
that we shall both execute in line with my taking up the tenancy
should be done accordingly to ensure we are on the same page with each
other.You can prepare the lease in my name Victoria Marlin.
Due to the limited time that i have before my arrival,i am making
arrangements with a furniture company to supply the home with
furniture,so i will need you to provide me with the measurements of
the room,i will send it to the furniture company so that they can
supply the unit with furniture that will fit in well.As regards my
Car,I am planning on having it deliver to the house before my arrival
so that i can settle in comfortably,I am making arrangement with the
Car handler to deliver my Car before my arrival after the rent and
security deposit has been paid to you by my Dad.
I will ask you for a favor here,can i rely on you to take delivery
of my Car for me when it is deliver to you?I will instruct the Car
handler to contact you to schedule a delivery date and time that will
be convenient for you to receive it on my behalf next week. As you
will be handling the delivery of the Car for me,I will tell my Dad to
include the costs of my Car delivery with the rent and deposit to be
sent to you so that you can help me to make the payment when it is
deliver.I will really appreciate if you can do this for me as this is
to afford mutual relationship between you and the Car handler when he
delivers the Car next week.I promise to compensate you adequately for
your time and efforts on my arrival at your place.
I hope we have an understanding ?,Thanks for the co-operation and
understanding.I promise you have a great time while i stay with you.

I was just contacted by someone named “Angie Hill” that turned out to be a scam. There were a couple small indications in the emails back and forth that made me slightly uneasy, especially telling me that she would call one day and never did, or that her dad would call and never did, failing to ever answer when she planned on moving in, pushing as fast as possible to “secure the room” and then for me to help unload a car being imported from overseas so she had to send me extra money for the processing costs. I know about how much it takes to ship and import a car and the check she sent wouldnt be nearly enough in the first place, and the amount matches up pretty close to many of the amounts on this site that has been said.

As for the check, I dont know much bout checks and fraud but I do know technology. The signature on the check was a big stand out, it looks like the signature was a picture someone had taken of a real signature and then used an inkjet printer to print the picture onto the check.
The mailing address on the USPS envelope said it came from Bronx, NY, which is weird because that never came up in our talks. She was supposedly from Spain and moving to the US to finish school, so the check should have been coming from there. It also only took a day to get here, not possible with an overseas check, and everyone knows a direct transfer would be far easier and better to issue a payment from an overseas account to someone here in the US. The actual place the check says it came from is a Johanas Flower’s shop in Carpinteria, CA. Which that doesnt match up with either the Bronx mailing address or the Spain story. I called the bank up and they were wary of letting me talk to a manager about the check and also about giving out much account into on their clients, but they confirmed the check was fake and it sounded like they had gotten a few of these such checks very recently.

They used the name Katherine Robert and sent me a photo of a girl as well. They sent a check and I refused to send money until it cleared. I doubt it will. They texted my phone number and it showed their number from New Mexico 5753231990. BEWARE PEOPLE.

Here is the email:

I’m so glad to hear from you quick, I’m interested in renting the
room. My name is Katherine Robert i was born in France (Paris) i speak
both French & English, am single, fun, loving, clean, loyal and
respectful of others, don’t have any pet. More about me, my father is
from US and my mother is from France. I’m 24yrs old, sex female, i
attend American University of Paris, graduated a year ago.

I’m coming to stay for a year, and am coming for my master’s
degree.I’m currently in Alaska in a village “Nunivak Island” on a
research work and will be coming soon… I’ll be arriving any time
from May or you can email me the available date i can move in also
i’ll loved to call you but here is a remote area calls are very hard
to go through, please send me some picture of the room because i will
not be able to come over and check on it before renting.

Please tell me little about yourself…if you are a
student?,working?, married or single?, if there is a garage or parking
space because i will be coming with my own car. Let me know the total
amount for the first month rent, i will be paying upfront so that you
can be rest assured that am really interested in renting the room from
you…

My mode of payment is US Check, so please feed me back with the
following details so that i can ensure you are ready to rent the room
to me.

I’ll be waiting to read back from you with the information
requested so that i can forward it to my father to issue out the check
for the deposit and month rent upfront as soon as possible, with that
you can hold on the place prior my arrival… Thanks for your
co-operation

Once you receive the payment, go straight to your bank have the
$2877.88 deposit into your account, after doing that please partially
withdraw $1,700.00 cash for my car… Take the cash to a nearest
Western Union store to make a money transfer to the car delivery agent
information given below…

BELOW IS THE CAR DELIVERY AGENT INFORMATION YOU ARE TO TRANSFER THE MONEY TO

Note you are to deduct the transfer charges from the money you are
transferring to the car delivery agent, As soon as you get to western
union just pick the western union form and fill your name has sender’s
name and (Kenneth Morales) as the Receiver’s name and give them the
cash of the $1700.00 .Once you have the fund wire to the agent you are
to kindly get back to me with the transfer details below…

Please let me know at once if you understand all i said above. Waiting
to hear from you as soon as you receive my e-mail. Thanks!

Thanks so much for your email..i will be glad if you can get the check
deposited and partial withdraw $1700 instant cash for the car so you
can have the money send to the car delivery person information which
is (Roberta Fiore) full information via western union so they can
start the car paper work..also you can send the money online with your
debit card via western union i think that will be easier for you ..you
can send the money so they will come for the delivery of the car at
your own best time as soon as you back to state ..let me know how you
can help me pls Thanks

I’m so glad that I checked on Google just one more way, to see about roommate scams!!! We were about to decide to choose the scammer! Then, would we not only be out whatever they may have taken us for, but, the rent for as long as it took the bad stuff to happen.
It started out sounding legit. Then, before giving us any more than her email address, she wants pictures of the room and more specific information about us.
There were two things that happened that were red flags. The first was that she wanted us to take delivery of her car from the dealership. We weren’t comfortable with that, based on not wanting to be responsible if there was something wrong with the car. And then, of course, she would compensate us for our trouble…right! The second thing that happened was that we got another person, totally unrelated, with an almost identical letter, as if it’s a form letter that scammers can purchase at BadPeople-R-Us. The only differences were the country that their non-American parent was from & the country where they are currently doing research.
Thank you so much for this posting!!! It really saved us!

I’ve gotten a few responses from persons within the US (but not in my state) and they give a phone number. Do you think these may be scams or legit? Should I call the number or will they be able to get my personal info if I do that? Thank you for making this website.

Thanks for the information! I was wondering what the actual scam was. I just received this email, which is very similar to the one you received:

Thanks for the swift response. My name is Julia, female and 24 years of age, fun-loving, outspoken, friendly, clean, caring and respectful of others, a non-smoker (but can hangout in a smoky bar) don’t do drugs, drink occasionally and drama free kind of person. I graduated last year from Edinburgh University, Scotland and I’m single with no children. I would love to secure the room for myself before my arrival to the States. I like my roommate to be very caring and friendly. I will be in the States before the end of this month for the next two years as I’ll be coming for my Master degree program. I was born in Scotland (UK) and my Dad is from Kahului,Hawaii but he has been living in Scotland for over 27 years.I obtained my bachelor’s degree (Economics) from the University Of Edinburgh and I speak fluent English with a Scottish accent.

I’m currently visiting a cousin in Kosovo. I’m really interested in renting from you and I hope you consider giving the room to me.I understand I can’t be able to view the place in person so I would prefer some recent pictures of the room (the exterior maybe).I would like you to tell me more about you and also if you have a garage or parking space since I will have my own car.Please let me know the total payment of the place so I can forward your email and information to my Dad since he is the one to be paying the bills. The payment will be drawn from a United States cashier’s check and I would need the following information from you to have my Dad issue out the payment to you on time.

The one they tired to pull on my roommate and I was the same thing except they made up some story about shipping their car overseas and having it delivered to our place, I would assume to not raise questions on how big the check way that they were sending out.

Thank you for sharing this. I got this alteration of the e-mail message:

Thanks so much for your quick reply, I’m interested in renting the
room. My name is Mary Jude i was born in France (Paris) i speak both
French & English, am single, fun, loving, clean, loyal and respectful
of others, don’t have any pet. More about me, my father is from US and
my mother is from France. I’m 24yrs old, sex female, i attend American
University of Paris, graduated a year ago.

I’m coming to stay for a year, and am coming for my master’s
degree.I’m currently in Alaska in a village “Nunivak Island” on a
research work and will be coming soon… I’ll be arriving(December)i’ll
loved to call you but here is a remote area calls are very hard to go
through, please send me some picture of the room because i will not be
able to come over and check on it before renting.

Please tell me little about yourself…if you are a
student?,working?, married or single?, if there is a garage or parking
space because i will be coming with my own car. Let me know the total
amount for the first month rent, i will be paying upfront so that you
can be rest assured that am really interested in renting the room from
Show message history

My mode of payment is US Check, so please feed me back with the
following details so that i can ensure you are ready to rent the room
to me.

I’ll be waiting to read back from you with the information
requested so that i can forward it to my father to issue out the check
for the deposit and month rent upfront as soon as possible, with that
you can hold on the place prior my arrival… Thanks for your
co-operation

These scammers have gotten creative with even how they find their scapegoats. I had listed on my University off-campus listserve that I needed a student to sublet my room. I had only posted my listing on the campus website. So when I got an email from a “student” to my university email I assumed it was a fraud. The foreign student claimed to be from Turkey. She listed her entire life story in her email and stated her father handeled all her financial transactions though she claimed to be a Grad student of 27. I didn’t know much about scam renting. So her father began emailing me for my information and etc. I only need 150 security deposit for the sublet. But was sent 2,500 in express mail. Her father then proceeded to say that her travel agent had made a mistake and mixed her travel money with the first month rent I never had asked for. He even asked if I could transfer 1,500 of the money to a travel agent in the U.S. Keep the remainder of the money for rent and 100 for my troubles. Now all the alarms were going off. Who sends a large amount of money to a random person then proceeds to trust them to split it. I had deposited the check into the account before the red alarms went off but thankfully my bank saw it was fraudulent and returned the deposit and called for confirmation. I got out of the situation without loosing money but this father daughter duo keeps emailing me with different names asking for my rental space.

Hi,
I’m so glad to hear from you quick, I’m interested in renting the
room. My name is Ashley Collins i was born in France (Paris) i speak
both French & English, am single, fun, loving, clean, loyal and
respectful of others, don’t have any pet. More about me, my father is
from US and my mother is from France. I’m 24yrs old, sex female, i
attend American University of Paris, graduated a year ago.

I’m coming to stay for a year, and am coming for my master’s
degree.I’m currently in Alaska in a village “Nunivak Island” on a
research work and will be coming soon… I’ll be arriving any time
from Jan or you can email me the available date i can move in also
i’ll loved to call you but here is a remote area calls are very hard
to go through, please send me some picture of the room because i will
not be able to come over and check on it before renting.

Please tell me little about yourself…if you are a
student?,working?, married or single?, if there is a garage or parking
space because i will be coming with my own car. Let me know the total
amount for the first month rent, i will be paying upfront so that you
can be rest assured that am really interested in renting the room from
you…

My mode of payment is US Check, so please feed me back with the
following details so that i can ensure you are ready to rent the room
to me.

I’ll be waiting to read back from you with the information
requested so that i can forward it to my father to issue out the check
for the deposit and month rent upfront as soon as possible, with that
you can hold on the place prior my arrival… Thanks for your
co-operation

Thanks for this (old) article, quick google found it for me. Coryn, I got the same form email with a different name:

Good to hear back from you, i’m interested in renting the room. My
name is MICHELE BAKER was born in France (Paris) i speak both French
& English, am single, fun, loving, clean, loyal and respectful of others, don’t have any pet. More about me, my father is from US and my mother is from France. I’m 24yrs old, sex female, i attend American University of Paris, graduated a year ago.

I’m coming to stay for a year, and am coming for my master’s degree.
I’m currently in Alaska in a village “Nunivak Island” on a research work and will be coming soon JAN 15th I’ll loved to call you but here is a remote area calls are very hard to go through, please send me some picture of the room because i will not be able to come over and check on it before renting.

Please tell me little about yourself…if you are a student?, working?, married or single?, if there is a garage or parking space because i will be coming with my own car. Let me know the total amount for the first month rent, i will be paying upfront so that you can be rest assured that am really interested in renting the room from you…

My mode of payment is US Check, so please feed me back with the following details so that i can ensure you are ready to rent the room to me.
BELOW IS THE INFORMATION NEEDED
***Full name to appear on the check:-
***Street address, city, state, zip code:- ***Cell & home phone number:- ***Total amount for a month:-

I’ll be waiting to read back from you with the information requested so that i can forward it to my father to issue out the check for the deposit and month rent upfront as soon as possible, with that you can hold on the place prior my arrival… Thanks for your co-operation

He/She is still at it. I suspected a scammer and thankfully saw all the above comments. Thank you to those that posted and warned us. Red flag: PERSON OUT OF THE COUNTRY AND NOT ACCESSIBLE.
That is the hallmark sign that it is a scammer, right off the bat.

Jan 20 at 5:09 PM

Thanks so much for your quick reply, I’m interested in renting the
room. My name is Susan Mendez (F),I am 24yrs old,I am fun loving,
personal, friendly,clean and respectful of others.
A non-smoker, don’t do drugs, i drink occasionally,and drama
free. I graduated last year in France. I am single and have no
children… I do bible study, and sometimes we do karaoke night with
my roommate! i go to church every Sunday. Am coming for my masters
degree. I was born in Spain,Malaga(Los Asperones), my dad is from USA
but my mum is from Malaga…I went to Málaga University (UMA) i speak
both España and English ,am presently on research work at Guam (USA),
am almost done with the research. Am doing it because its part of
prerequisite for my masters in Microbiology. I would have loved to
call you but this is a remote area calls is hard to go through
from here and i don’t want to waste much time.
Am really interested in renting from you and i don’t really love
pets but i don’t care if there is any in the house. I would have loved
to see it but am very far,but with pictures,I am glad. I will also
like you to tell me more about you and if you have garage or parking
space because I will have my own car come over, please let me know the
total payment of the place and more over I will send your email to my
dad for him to email you later because he is the one that will be
paying the bills but nevertheless,I will like you to send me your full
Name and the mailing address, your phone number as well,so that my Dad
will issue out the payment for the place as soon as possible,with that
you can hold on the place for me till i come. I will be looking
forward to your email soonest.

Thanks and have a nice day! or text me with the information for the deposit.

Luckily I just lost the $25 return/bounced check charge. I had no idea that this was a scam but I certainly paid attention when they wanted me to pay for the delivery of their vehicle with the check that they sent. I checked with my bank and they tried to contact bank of America in Miami Lakes Florida to verify that it was a good check. B of A said that they do not verify checks over the phone. That was my first clue. The scam continues and the con artist “implored” me and “Urged” me to help her out of this predicament promising compensation upon her arrival to the apartment. etc…….My ever alert daughter and associate went to the I-Net and found this scam. Thanks for posting….maybe others will be made aware. I just wish that I could prosecute for the bad check but I’m sure it was drawn on a non extistant account.. Thank God my parents don’t have a computer because they are the ones that would have helped this poor sole out of the goodness of their heart

Just put basement up for rent….thanks to the website I know this is a scam…hope it helps someone:
Hi, I’m so glad to hear the room is still available for rent. My full Name is Marie Browlers.. Here is little about myself, i speak both English and German, am single, fun, loving, clean, and respectful of others, don’t do drugs. My father is from Germany and my mother is from US, am {27yrs old/F}. I was born in Munich Germany and i attend Hamburg University of Technology Germany i graduated 3yrs ago. I’ve been in the US for a year but i’ll be coming to your state for mymaster’s degree starting from 31th of March I’ll like to pay for the deposit and month rent… I would have loved to call you but here is a remote area calls are very hard to go through, so please try and understand and also I’ll would have like to come and check at the room before renting but am very far… but with pictures that will makes me happy. I’ll like you to tell me more about yourself and if you have garage or parking space cos i will have my own car come over, please let me know the total amount for the first month rent and payment will be done by via US Cashier’s & Certified Check. So I want you to feed me back with the following details so that i can ensure you are ready to accept the payment.

INFORMATION TO FACILITATE THE MAILING OF THE CHECK.

1* Full Name :

2* Address {Not PO Box}:

3* City, State, Zip Code :

4* Month rent :

5* Your cell number:

6* Your Email Address and Pictures of the room:

Waiting for your e-mail with the information requested so that i can forward it to my father to issue out the check for the deposit and month rent with that you can hold on the place for me till i come soon…Thanks.

Wow, sounds familiar. I had a “suppose of” girl answer my ad on craigslist to rent a room. The individual used a lot of the same MO as Rachel had described. She sent me some provocative pics of her, the same as what has been described in other posts, blonde and young. I had a gut feeling that it was a scam that would lead up to a money thing. The last email she had mentioned that I would be taking delivery of a vehicle to my property. So I jumped on line today and did some research and found that I am right. My son fell into a similar scam where they were going to send him money to purchase office supplies. Well the check was apprehended by the FBI before it even reach him, thank God. But what they had told him is that they have you cash this phony cashiers check give them money and the victim is now responsible for the money. I reported the room rent scam to the FBI today in hopes that no one falls victim to it. It is said that if it’s too good to be true it probably is.

After reading through this comments I noticed that this individual uses the same story just kinda tweaks it a little each time. I hope that no one gets taken by this person. Thank God I trusted my gut feeling and investigated it. Here are three of the emails that was sent to me:

Thanks for getting back to me. My dad have send the payment out to the address you provide and it will get to you next week. Regards my car, i am planning on having it delivered to the house before my arrival so that i can settle in comfortably you can understand that transiting cross Atlantic is not easy so i am making arrangement with the car dealer to deliver the car before my arrival after the rent and security deposit has been paid to you by my Dad. I will ask you for a favor here,can i rely on you to take delivery of the car for me when its delivered.I will instruct the car dealer to contact you to schedule a delivery time that will be convenient for you to receive the car for me .As you will be handling the delivery of the car with the rent and deposit to be sent to you so that you can help me handle the delivery payment for the car…the delivery payment has been included with theCheck coming to you.I will really appreciate if you can do this for me and promiseto compensate you adequately for your time and efforts on my arrival in your place..Hope to read back from you soon..

Thanks.

Thanks for your honest and understand, My Name is Vincent Young I’m 21yrold going to 22 in age am single, fun, loving, extremely, clean, and respectful of others, I don’t drug and i don’t smoke or drink.. I enjoy going out with my friends to movies,plays, parks, hikes,
anything to do with the ocean and horses but I’m cool living with people am from Hawaii, my uncle is presently very sick, and i have to travel to Finland to see him but i want to secure the place down before going. I’ll be arriving by Aug Second. and pay for the deposit and one month rent upfront, He was involved in a car crash with his new car some weeks back and now ill seriously, I need to check on him and take good care of him. I am staying in CHRMC Childrenâ€™s Hospital Seattle staff Quarters now The address is below: 4800 Sandpoint Way NE Seattle, WA 98105. I am moving cause of my job, am a medical Humanitarian nurse for united Nations. I work for CHRMC Childrenâ€™s Hospital in Seattle but will be working in a local clinic over there, I was born and brought up in Finland, i studied there i had my university education right there while staying with my uncle.. I lived all my life in Finland before coming down to Seattle, WA have been living with my uncle from age of 13â€¦Then i was member of the Red Cross Association it really sounds interesting for meâ€¦Am sure You â€˜ll really like the person that i am ,because i will also do the dishing if you like I work when i am to and relax when i am to,I also like sharing my thoughts alsoâ€¦paying rent on time will not be a problem as i will also be making the rent fee before the month endsâ€¦I also will want you to know that i have my car that i will be coming over with little of my furniture. please let me know if there will be room for them. With all that Iâ€™ve said above I have told you more about me and more picture of mine will be attach in the next email Let me also know how i can go about securing the place down before my arrival as i will also be busy from next week and let me know if you can take off the ad off the site as i am going to secure the place with a deposit Feel free to ask me any question and as Iâ€™ve said i am looking to move in by the availability of the place but want to secured it now. Thanks

Hello,
Â Thanks for getting back to me with your information , { I will be paying the first month rent }. so i want you to secure the room the for me till my arrival and i will also like you to keep off the ads from the site so that nobody will contact you about the room again, Can you tell me the nearest airport? I will get back to you with my flight details And i will also attached some pics of mine for you and i will love to see your pics too,Â Hope to read back from you soon.

Very good find, this site! Gut instincts are typically true…so follow them! I went as far as replying until the scammer mentioned sending money for shipment of her items (why would anyone administer the shipping process for a stranger, I will never know). I never got to the point where money (fraudulent or otherwise) was exchanged…thank you gut-feeling for prompting me to search for Craigslist roommate scams!She did get several pictures of the house and 2 of myself. I fully expect to see these pictures being used to scam others after reading through several of these posts. Those of you who pasted their scammer-communications here…you’re awesome! Here’s the last one I received before I informed the scammer the emails were being forwarded to the FBI:

“How are you doing? fine and hope you are having a wonderful day,Anyway i must tell you that am really happy about the information provided,and i will want you to know that i’m really interested in renting the place from you and i won’t take any chance in losing it.All i will want you to do for me is to please remove the advert from the sites as i will not want to lose it to another person.I’ ve contacted my Boss that will be responsible for the payment and he said he is okay by it and he promised to make the payment out to you via a cashiers check.

I will also want to inform you that i will be shipping over little of my bedroom furnitures and my car that my organization gave me, when i was promoted as Humanitarian officer and my boss as promised to include the money for the shipment with the money for the rent fees,so as soon as the shippers came to deliver my things,you will help me to give them the remaining money at the point of there delivery after you may have deducted the money for the rent fees.

Hope you can really understand this?i will really appreciate if you can do this for me,please do get back to me with your decision so that my boss can get the payment send to you as soon as possible Hope to read from you soon and will get intouch with you as soon as the payment as been sent. Yours Truly, Mary “

Wow, almost got scammed but thanks to their stupidity I realized what they were doing. My emails were very similar to Jackie 4-10-15. I am a landlord and posted a room available at U of M university in Ann Arbor, MI. Posted in early April for summer rent of 3 months. Recieved 3 emails from “individuals” with exotic female pictures, what the hell do I care what they looked like. I want a humane body with signed lease and money,preferably cash. All with the same MO, will send check prior to arrival. Need to take care of delivery of car and also pick up at airport. What BS, responded that I am a landlord and will not deal with car or airport pick up. They still wanted to send check for far more than what was due, scam! Also “father” was going to pay. “Father” ended up texting me stating his “daughter” really wanted the room, problem was, he said he was the father of a girl that I never heard of. Got his little scam mules mix up. Father ended up calling me with very heavy accent probably Nigerian, assureing me everything was good. The phone was 213-534-8937 probably a throw away cell.
Watch out for these emails:jessyscott006@gmail.comelite09needplace@gmail.comnikkilynn427@gmail.com
As a landlord for 20 years I should know better, I have always met in person, fill out application, got phone #, social security #, check with prior housing. Don’t know what I was thinking. Thank God they were stupid.
I feel awful about those who were so taken.
Hey John M would love to get back at these “f”
Also reported to FBI , FTC (federal trade commission) and local police

Wow, I am advertising for a roommate on Craigslist, was contacted by Jessica Scott, jessyscott006@gmail.com something seemed fishy so I looked up her email and found this post…. she is a college student from another country, dad is sending money, she is sending her car and will also send money to receive delivery along with an extra month of rent, …. so…. I guess she can get my bank info if I deposit the check? or is she just hoping to have me refund extra money sent with her bad check?

this was the second message i got from Felicita. i responded by giving her the requested info, and asking for more information. After i sent my message, i started thinking about it and it didn’t seem right to me. and i guess i am correct.
i have been scammed before, never lost any money, but didn’t realize they even do it for rooms!

> Good to hear back from you, I’m interested in renting the room. My
> name is Felicia Williams I was born in Russia (Moscow) i speak both
> Russia & English, am single, fun, loving, clean, loyal and respectful
> of others, don’t have any pet. More about me, my father is from US and
> my mother is from France. I’m 26yr old female, I attended New Mexico
> State University and graduated 2yrs ago.
>
> I’m coming to stay for a year, for my master’s degree. I’m currently
> in Alaska in a village “Nunivak Island” on a research work and will be
> coming soon… I’ll be arriving June, I would have loved to call you
> but here is a remote area, calls are very hard to go
> through, please send me some picture of the room because I will not be
> able to come over and check on it before renting.
>
> Please tell me little about yourself…if you are a student?,
> working?, married or single?, if there is a garage or parking space
> because I will be coming with my own car. Let me know the total amount
> for the first month rent, I will be paying upfront so that you can be
> rest assured that am really interested in renting the room from you…
>
> My mode of payment is US Check, so please feed me back with the
> following details so that i can ensure you are ready to rent the room
> to me.
>
> BELOW IS THE INFORMATION NEEDED.
>
> * Full Name :-
> * Street :-
> * Address :-
> * City :-
> * State :-
> * Zip Code :-
> * Cell & home phone number:-
> * First month rent :-
>
>
> I’ll be waiting to read back from you with the information requested
> so that I can forward it to my father to issue out the check for the
> deposit and month rent upfront as soon as possible, with that you can
> hold on the place prior my arrival… Thanks for your co-operation
>
>

Same just happened to me with the jessyscott@gmail with her dad gonna pay. I said needed to get more details and phone numbers and said to accept her car etc To be delivered. The number was 213-534-8937 as well. Really seemed fishy and no one in their right mind would send money like that etc….thanks for the help!!

Lol this literally just happened to me. I had a weird feeling when I got this email

Good to hear back from you, I’m interested in renting the room. My
name is Teresa Holsinger I was born in Russia (Moscow) i speak both
Russia & English, am single, fun, loving, clean, loyal and respectful
of others, don’t have any pet. More about me, my father is from US and
my mother is from France. I’m 26yr old female, I attended New Mexico
State University and graduated 2yrs ago.

I’m coming to stay for a year, for my master’s degree. I’m currently
in Alaska in a village “Nunivak Island” on a research work and will be
coming soon… I’ll be arriving June, I would have loved to call you
but here is a remote area, calls are very hard to go
through, please send me some picture of the room because I will not be
able to come over and check on it before renting.

Please tell me little about yourself…if you are a student?,
working?, married or single?, if there is a garage or parking space
because I will be coming with my own car. Let me know the total amount
for the first month rent, I will be paying upfront so that you can be
rest assured that am really interested in renting the room from you…

My mode of payment is US Check, so please feed me back with the
following details so that i can ensure you are ready to rent the room
to me.

I’ll be waiting to read back from you with the information requested
so that I can forward it to my father to issue out the check for the
deposit and month rent upfront as soon as possible, with that you can
hold on the place prior my arrival… Thanks for your co-operation

The part that started to throw up a red flag was the amount of information being requested and the numerous grammatical and spelling errors. I sent the information requested using my school address, but the next email that was sent really set an alarm off for me which was this:

Thanks for getting back to me with the information I requested. I got
the information and i’ll have it forward to my father to issue out
payment to you on time. I really appreciate that you are ready to
accept me roommate, please have little patience for the check to
arrive to your address and also secure the room prior my arrival. I’ll
e-mail by giving you an update about the status in regards to the
payment and also provide the tracking number from the carrier service,
further more i need you to take the ad down CL, that will give me a
strong prove that the room has been hold prior my arrival so that
other interested people will not make any enquirer..

Regarding my Car…. I’m planning on having it delivered to you
before my arrival so that you can come and pick me up at the airport
and settle in comfortably, you can understand that transiting cross
Atlantic is not easy so i am making arrangement with the car dealer to
deliver the car before my arrival, once the rent and security deposit
has been paid to you by my father. I’ll ask you for a favor here, can
i rely on you to take delivery of the car for me when it’s delivered
?, as you’ll be handling the delivery of the car along with the rent
and deposit, the car money has been included with the check coming to
you. I’ll really appreciate if you can do this for me and promise to
compensate you adequately for your time and efforts on my arrival into
your place.

Let me know at once if i can trust you to have the rest fund to the
car dealership agent once you get the check, i will be expecting your
e-mail as soon as you receive my e-mail. Thanks so much for your
understanding…

Sincerely,

That was extremely fishy so I Googled this email: hudsonvbh@gmail.com, and I ended up here on this website which validated my suspicions. I called them out on the scam and threatened them with the FBI and let them know I have their IP address and location (I graduated with a B.S. in IT, thanks college). It’ll be interesting to see if I get a reply back.

The scenario I have is similar to what you have stated. From South Dakota, wanted to move to my city, sending her payment through a cashier’s check for rent + shipping cost of her things and a car delivered before she moves in. Thank you for posting this.

The only problem I have is they know my information, such as phone, number, address even my work info. Is there away I can block, or report this person? I am scared knowing that they know where I live. I should have been alert about this, but how they use emotional strings are so manipulative, and that’s how I end up sending them basically all my information. How can I report this with the authorities, or perform background check before getting scam?

Well, I am new at this room rental business, but have received multiple responses to my ad in Craigs List, all with the same “flavor” of what I’m reading here. I had already decided to require an application before trying to meet the person in a local coffee shop first, which was wisdom indeed. Not one of them would agree to fill it out because they didn’t have a printer or scanner, lived out of town, needed to rent it sight unseen, etc. That was my clue I didn’t want anything to do with someone who won’t give me information on them. I had also asked for their personal email not wanting to make replies through CL anymore than necessary, many of which ignored my request. Another clue, but I couldn’t figure out how they could scam me. Now I know. Thanks so much!

By reading all comments, most of them asked for your information (full name, physical address and phone) and told that they would like to ship the car prior their arrival at the 1st email. I got a scam email today. Intially, she asked if the room is still available. After knowing the room is still available, she introduce herself, attached a picture of a nice looking young girl and even gave out a phone number of the person who will be responsible for the bill

My Name is Susan,Female 26yrs old Here is a lil about me below..I am fun loving,personal,friendly,clean and respectful of others.A non-smoker, don’t do drugs,i drink occasionally,and drama free.I graduated last year in Germany.I am single and have no children… I do bible study, and sometime we do karaoke night with my roommate! i go to church every Sunday.Am coming for my masters degree. I was born in Germany(Hamburg),my Dad is from United State,but my Mom is from Germany.I went to University of Hamburg in Germany i speak both French and English ,am presently on research work at Guam (USA), am almost done with the research. Am doing it because its part of prerequisite for my masters in Microbiology. I would have loved to call you but this is a remote area calls is hard to go through from here and i don’t want to waste much time,you can text/call my dad on(864) 372-6102).Also i will like to see some pictures of the place,also tell me lil about yourself..Because i would like to know if there a parking space .I will be moving in anytime from now.I will send your email to my dad for him to email you later because he is the one that will be paying the bills.Thanks

I replied her back with the info she requested and the photo of the house. I also asked her some questions regarding her situation (I wish I could read Mike’s post so I didn’t have to spend much time on the email to reply to her) and requested to setup a conference call with her and her dad.

She replied back to me but didn’t answer any of my questions
Hello ,
I really appreciate your explanation about the room and yourself ,
it really help and make me feel more comfortable , please consider the
room rented to me and also get back to me with your details for the
payment so that my financial can have the rental payment mail out to
you so that you can have the place secure for me prior my arrival ..

Please I will need the following information to facilitate out the
rental payment to you to be able to secured the room for my prior my
arrival.

1.Full Name as it will appear on the payment,
2.Physical Mailing Address,
3.City,State,Zip code
4.Phone Number.
I would be glad to see your quick response.

After reading her email, my instinct is telling me that there is something wrong so replied her back as below
Hi Susan,

We have couple candidates to interview before we make final decision. Please read my earlier email regarding all the questions for you and your dad because they will help us to understand your situation better.

Also, I don’t feel comfortable to give out the information you requested until we can have a conference call with you and your dad. I apologize but this will help to avoid us from SCAMMERS on Craiglist.

I went to do some researches after sending out the above email and I found this post. Now I am pretty sure it is a scam and I don’t think she will reply to my last email. Well, I will watch out carefully more on the room rent out inquries … Thank you everybody for sharing all scam stories.

Our daughter was excited to be getting a foreign exchange student mastering in South African Art, which should have been our first clue. Who goes to a small town university to do that? Beware of Lauren Warren, whose name should have been another clue.

I was surprised that the police said, “Just throw the check away.” Doesn’t anyone care about nailing these evil people?

I wish I would have seen this message a couple of days ago. I received a check from a person saying they wanted to rent my room and sent me almost a 3000.00 check. They wanted me to send 1800 to a person in road island they said it was a car dealer ship agent so they can have their car delivered.
I cashed the check at a check cashing place. They called the bank and it said it was lagit. I’m worried now.

Oh and I forgot to add that today a foreign man called from a local number asking for me. He said I was supposed to send that money to road island. I felt uncomfortable so I hung up. The picture that was sent was of a white blonde girl. They guy sounded like he was from Africa

Here is one I’ve gotten that I had a feeling was a scam.
Thanks for the swift response. My name is Tam, female and 24 years of age, fun-loving, outspoken, friendly, clean, caring and respectful of others, a non-smoker (but can hangout in a smoky bar) don’t do drugs, drink occasionally and not drama-friendly. I graduated last year from Edinburgh University, Scotland and I’m single with no children. I would love to secure the room for myself before my arrival to the States. I like my roommate to be very caring and friendly. I will be in the States before the end of this month for the next two years as I’ll be coming for my Master degree program. I was born in Scotland (UK) and my Dad is from Kahului,Hawaii but he has been living in Scotland for over 27 years.I obtained my bachelor’s degree (Economics) from the University Of Edinburgh and I speak fluent English with a Scottish accent.

I’m currently visiting a cousin in Kosovo. I’m really interested in renting from you and I hope you consider giving the room to me.I understand I can’t be able to view the place in person so I would prefer some recent pictures of the room (the exterior maybe). I would like you to tell me more about you and also if you have a garage or parking space since I will need a garage for my car and if a garage is not available I think a street parking is an option.Please let me know the total payment of the place so I can forward your email and information to my Dad since he is the one to be paying the bills. The payment will be drawn from a United States cashier’s check and I would need the following information from you to have my Dad make out the payment as early as possible.

First email:I’m a very active and outdoorsy lady in my early 20s who is looking for a room to move in asap, I like beer, flea markets, traveling and love animals and would love to to live with a roommate who is clean and respective of other. One of the things I’m most excited about in getting my own place is decorating. My style is eclectic. I am relatively neat and would expect the same courtesy in a roommate.

About me: I’ve seen much of the world. I get along with people very well. I like to do social activities such as hiking, or to go out for a casual drink. I enjoy meeting people, I like playing sports (running, swimming), I’m tidy and especially tidy with the things we share.
I have experience with renting, and I obviously pay on time.

Second email:Hello,

How are you doing, I am here to talk to you about my Car and Study Equipment’s, i am planning on having them delivered to you before my arrival so that i can settle in comfortably when i arrive, you can understand that transporting them by myself wont be easy so i made an arrangement with a car delivery person to deliver the car and the study tools before my arrival.

I’ll ask you for a favor here, can i rely on you to take delivery of my car and my African Antiques Study Equipment’s for me when it’s being delivered. Please you’ll be handling the delivery funds for the car and the study materials to the delivery representatives for me. The payment for the rent and deposit plus the delivery funds for the Car and my Study Equipment’s has been included in the check on its way to you now.

I’ll really appreciate if you can do this for me and promise to compensate you adequately for your time and efforts on my arrival. Let me know at once if i can trust you to have the funds sent to the delivery representatives once you get the check, Kindly write me back as soon as you receive this e-mail.

Thanks so much for your understanding.

Matilda Atkinson

240-284-3363 ( text only )
Third email:Thanks for getting back to me with the information requested. I got the information and I’ll have it forwarded to my Dad to issue out payment to you on time. I really appreciate that you gave me the opportunity to have the room, I really don’t Skype or do social network stuff due to my brother’s death by a Facebook friend.

I will like you to have a little patience for the check to arrive to you and also secure the room prior my arrival. I will update you soon about the status of the payment and also provide the tracking # from the courier service. I’ll like you to take the ad down from CL, so that will give me an assurance that the room has been held prior my arrival. I will also be signing all the necessary Papers on my arrival.

Thank you

Matilda Atkinson

240-284-3363 ( text only )

Thought it was legit until she stated asking for money orders That was an immediate red flag, The I found this site.

This is happening to me now. I looked this up because it all seemed too fishy. She says her dad already sent the money to hold the place. Has never spoken to me on the phone or my wife! “Her” phone doesn’t accept calls, it’s a google voice number that has been changed because “her old one stopped working and now she is using her friends.” Claims to be French and American who is living on a remote island in Alaska. Calls herself Carolet Madison. Delaware number then Tennessee.

She says about herself…”Graduate student, French and American parents, doing research in a remote Alaskan village…Dad will send check right away..” SOUND FAMILIAR?

here’s a little bit of “her” post

Thanks so much for your quick reply, I’m interested in renting the
room. My name is Merry Jude i was born in France (Paris) i speak both
French & English, am single, fun, loving, clean, loyal and respectful
of others, don’t have any pet. More about me, my father is from US and
my mother is from France. I’m 24yrs old, sex female, i attend American
University of Paris, graduated a year ago.

I’m coming to stay for a year, and am coming for my master’s
degree.I’m currently in Alaska in a village “Nunivak Island” on a
research work and will be coming soon… I’ll be arriving(August)i’ll
loved to call you but here is a remote area calls are very hard to go
through, please send me some picture of the room because i will not be
able to come over and check on it before renting.

I have had a similar email conversation as well from a Marjorie Dwyer. It sounded fishy from the beginning but I thought it was legit because she talked about watching movies and hanging out… But weird since we never met. It wasn’t until she mentioned sending extra money for shipping costs that I decided to cancel the rental confirmation to her until we could meet. Here is the original story she told me:
I really do appreciate it your response to my text,.I would have loved us to see before making any plan but i really have a lot of things to do right now,But will be okay if you can tell me more about the place and you,as my uncle is presently sick and i have to go see him,but really want to hold a place down…

More about me :My name is Marjorie Dwyer,am Nurse with humanitarian assistance,I will be 27 by the 25th of next month,i love to live with clean people,caring,responsible,neat type. I’m 5″7′ straight,I like honest,responsible,trustworthy and hardworking people while I dislike lazy,messy,uncaring people and I love pets so much,am quiet and easy going person to live with. I don’t keep late nights neither will i have overnight guest around, but i am okay if you do,I was born and bread in France as there was where i had my university education and stays with my uncle there,but i am presently in south Dakota(U.s)

I lived all my life way in Paris before coming down to SD,I was in my final year when my mum died,i lost my dad before i was born,I grew up with my uncle after my mum died…I ve also wanted to be in the medical way since i was born,I served in the Paris Red Cross for 8 months,we have involved in projects that includes
orphans,orphanages,heart related diseases in children between the ages of 4-10 yrs .

Ambition and Work:

I was looking to move over to your state because i understand that I’ll be doing good over there as i ve been told by my uncle’s friend who ones live over there..And i will be working with any hospital around as i am also making enquires about that now…

Am sure You ‘ll really like the person that i am ,because i will also do the dishing if you like,I work when i am to and relax when i am to,I also like sharing my thoughts also….paying rent on time will not be a problem as i will also be making the rent fee before the month ends…. Right now. I ve the support of my uncle about my well being,so you shouldn’t be bothered about if i am competent of paying the rent I must confess am comfortable with the price and I will want to secure the place down before my arrival so i will want you to tell me all about the place,as i can’t see it before my arrival but the pictures…I also will want you to know that i have my car that i will be coming over with,and little of my furniture,please let me know if there will be room for them..

With all that i ve said above,I have told you more about me…Let me also know how i can go about securing the place down before my arrival as i will also be busy from next week preparing to come over and let me know if you can take off the ad off the site as i am going to secure the place with a deposit Feel free to ask me any question and as i ve said,i am looking to move in by 14th of August,but want to secured it now

I got the SAME Marjorie Dwyer email. Apparently, she has not yet turned 27:

I really do appreciate your response to my text,.I would have loved us to see before making any plan but i really have a lot of things to do right now,But will be okay if you can tell me more about the place and you,as my uncle is presently sick and i have to go see him,but really want to hold a place down…

More about me :My name is Marjorie Dwyer, am Nurse with humanitarian assistance,I will be 27 by the 25th of next month,i love to live with clean people,caring,responsible,neat type. I’m 5″7′ straight,I like honest,responsible,trustworthy and hardworking people while I dislike lazy,messy,uncaring people and I love pets so much,am quiet and easy going person to live with. I don’t keep late nights neither will i have overnight guest around, but i am okay if you do,I was born and bread in France as there was where i had my university education and stays with my uncle there,but i am presently in south Dakota(U.s)

I lived all my life way in Paris before coming down to SD,I was in my final year when my mum died,i lost my dad before i was born,I grew up with my uncle after my mum died…I ve also wanted to be in the medical way since i was born,I served in the Paris Red Cross for 8 months,we have involved in projects that includes
orphans,orphanages,heart related diseases in children between the ages of 4-10 yrs .

Ambition and Work:

I was looking to move over to your state because i understand that I’ll be doing good over there as i ve been told by my uncle’s friend who ones live over there..And i will be working with any hospital around as i am also making enquires about that now…

Am sure You ‘ll really like the person that i am ,because i will also do the dishing if you like,I work when i am to and relax when i am to,I also like sharing my thoughts also….paying rent on time will not be a problem as i will also be making the rent fee before the month ends…. Right now. I ve the support of my uncle about my well being,so you shouldn’t be bothered about if i am competent of paying the rent I must confess am comfortable with the price and I will want to secure the place down before my arrival so i will want you to tell me all about the place,as i can’t see it before my arrival but the pictures…I also will want you to know that i have my car that i will be coming over with,and little of my furniture,please let me know if there will be room for them..

With all that i ve said above,I have told you more about me…Let me also know how i can go about securing the place down before my arrival as i will also be busy from next week preparing to come over and let me know if you can take off the ad off the site as i am going to secure the place with a deposit Feel free to ask me any question and as i ve said,but want to secured it now

Wow! Great website!
I never thought of this type of a scam. Now I am in the middle of it.
I advertised on craigslist for a roommate. I received a reply from a nice girl from China named Alice.
She claims to be studying micro-biology and will be attending the Maritime school here in MI for her masters degree. Sounds good, right? Well hang on… I did a bit of research myself (skeptical as I am) and it became much more elaborate.
Alice actually has a facebook page, attended the college she claims to have attended–City University of Hong Kong– and is actually a walking, talking ,living human being! But….the emails she sent are almost verbatim to the ones listed on this site.
I am supposed to take delivery today form a courier for the amount requested in my ad. I have every intention of turning it over to my banker on Monday morning. Great site! Thanks a million!

The alias “Amanda Hudson” continues to try to use the roommate scam. Here is the latest from “Amanda”.

Mike (and people who commented) thanks so much for this website. Because of you and the comments, I avoided getting scammed.

***

Amanda Hudson wrote:

Happy to read back from you, I’m interested in renting the room. My name is Amanda Hudson i was born in France (Paris) i speak both French & English, am single, fun, loving, clean, loyal and respectful of others, don’t have any pet. More about me, my father is from US and my mother is from France. I’m 27yrs old, sex female, i attend American University of Paris, graduated a year ago.

I’m coming to stay for a year, and am coming for my master’s degree.I’m currently in Guam (Sinajana)” on a research work and will be coming soon…i’ll loved to call you but here is a remote area calls are very hard to go through, please send me some picture of the room if you can because i will not be able to come over and check on it before renting.

Please tell me little about yourself…if you are a student?,working?, married or single?, if there is a garage or parking space because i will be coming with my own car. Let me know the total amount for the first month rent, i will be paying upfront so that you can be rest assured that am really interested in renting the room from
you…

My mode of payment is US Check, so please feed me back with the following details so that i can ensure you are ready to rent the room to me.

I’ll be waiting to read back from you with the information requested so that i can forward it to my father to issue out the check for the deposit and month rent upfront as soon as possible, with that you can hold on the place prior my arrival… Thanks for your co-operation

Add sdoller02@gmail.com to the list user name is Susan Doller…same email as the rest..in Guam..sending a car..2008 Toyota Corolla.. dad sent check in ridiculous amount..to cover rental amount and the rest for the delivery of the car..as previous comments have stated..listen to your gut..took check to the bank it was written on..refused to take it to my bank and told ‘her’ so via text..although she urged for me to do just that..asked to speak to branch manager..gave him the details..posted an ad on Craigslist..check was sent..blah blah blah..wanted to verify..as check was written on a Michigan bank..but sent from California via UPS..was told immediately it was fake and a scam..and if I had tried to cash with a teller..even if I had all the paperwork following the trail and I did..my name would be forever linked with a fraudulent activity tag…so for those who have cashed..please follow through with your bank and the credit bureaus..but since I went through the bank manager..my name is cleared.

Thanks to my son warning me, I didn’t get scammed. He told me to check Craigslist scams etc. and sure enough, when I confronted the girl, I never heard any more. I choose to give her a choice of call me if it’s not right and never heard from her again. Thank you craigslist and my son.

I really do appreciate it your response to my text,.I would have loved us to see before making any plan but i really have a lot of things to do right now,But will be okay if you can tell me more about the place and you,as my uncle is presently sick and i have to go see him,but really want to hold a place down…

More about me :My name is Marjorie Dwyer,am Nurse with humanitarian assistance,I will be 27 by the 25th of next month,i love to live with clean people,caring,responsible,neat type. I’m 5″7′ straight,I like honest,responsible,trustworthy and hardworking people while I dislike lazy,messy,uncaring people and I love pets so much,am quiet and easy going person to live with. I don’t keep late nights neither will i have overnight guest around, but i am okay if you do,I was born and bread in France as there was where i had my university education and stays with my uncle there,but i am presently in south Dakota(U.s)

I lived all my life way in Paris before coming down to SD,I was in my final year when my mum died,i lost my dad before i was born,I grew up with my uncle after my mum died…I ve also wanted to be in the medical way since i was born,I served in the Paris Red Cross for 8 months,we have involved in projects that includes
orphans,orphanages,heart related diseases in children between the ages of 4-10 yrs .

Ambition and Work:

I was looking to move over to your state because i understand that I’ll be doing good over there as i ve been told by my uncle’s friend who ones live over there..And i will be working with any hospital around as i am also making enquires about that now…

Am sure You ‘ll really like the person that i am ,because i will also do the dishing if you like,I work when i am to and relax when i am to,I also like sharing my thoughts also….paying rent on time will not be a problem as i will also be making the rent fee before the month ends…. Right now. I ve the support of my uncle about my well being,so you shouldn’t be bothered about if i am competent of paying the rent I must confess am comfortable with the price and I will want to secure the place down before my arrival so i will want you to tell me all about the place,as i can’t see it before my arrival but the pictures…I also will want you to know that i have my car that i will be coming over with,and little of my furniture,please let me know if there will be room for them..

With all that i ve said above,I have told you more about me…Let me also know how i can go about securing the place down before my arrival as i will also be busy from next week preparing to come over and let me know if you can take off the ad off the site as i am going to secure the place with a deposit Feel free to ask me any question and as i ve said,i am looking to move in by 7th of September,but want to secured it now

First e-mail response to the ad was:
“How long can you accommodate me?”

To which I responded:
“There’s no set time frame. Minimum 6 months, if the living situation works out we can extend.”

Then the payload:

Thanks for getting back to me,I was planning to stay there for a year and can decide to stay longer if needs be… My name is Trana Dawa (F),I am 25yrs old,I am fun loving, personal, friendly,clean and respectful of others. A non-smoker, don’t do drugs, i drink occasionally,and drama free. I graduated last year in France. I am single and have no children..

I’m coming for my masters degree. I was born in France (Bordeaux), my dad is from USA while my mum is from Paris(she’s mixed race)…I went to University of Bordeaux in France i speak both French and English ,I am presently on research work at Guam (USA),I am almost done with the research. Am doing it because its part of prerequisite for my masters in Chemistry. I would have loved to call you but this is a remote area calls is hard to go through from here and i don’t want to waste much time.

Am really interested in renting from you and i don’t really love pets but i don’t care if there is any in the house. I would have loved to see the place but am very far away. I will also like you to tell me more about you and if you have garage or parking space because I will have my own car come over,please let me know the total payment of the place and more over I will send your email to my dad for him to email you later because he is the one that will be paying the bills but nevertheless,get back to me with your

Full Name & Mailing address

Phone number

So that my dad can issue out the payment for the place as soon as possible,with that you can hold the place for me till i come. I will be looking forward to your email soonest.

Trana Dawa

Accompanied by two photos of the alleged “Trana Dawa” attached. There’s even a newly created Facebook profile with a 3rd similar photo under that name, with locations and life events backing up the story of Bordeaux and Guam.

Thanks for your response, I’m so glad to hear the room is still
available for rent.. My name is Ann Smith, here is little about
me, i speak both German and English. I’m single, fun, loving, clean,
and respectful of others, don’t do drugs and have no pet , My father is
from US and my mother is from Germany , am 26yrs old female. I was
born in Munich i graduated last year from Hamburg University of
Technology Germany

I’m coming for a long term stay and am ready to sign a year lease as
soon as i get there but am presently on research work and will
be coming for my master’s degree. I’ll like to pay for the deposit and
a month rent…
I would have loved to call
you to because this on phone and get more details from you concerning
the room but here is a remote area calls are very hard to go through,
furthermore I’ll would have like to come and check at the room before
renting but am very far…but with pictures that will makes me happy.
Please try and understand and thanks for your understating.

Please tell me little about yourself…if you are a student?,
working?, married or single?, if there is a garage or parking space
because my car will be coming over before my arrival. Let me know the
total amount for the first month rent, because i will be paying
upfront so that you will be rest assured am really interested in
renting the room from you. Payment will be done via US (Cashier’s or
Certified Check), please feed me back with the following details so
that i can ensure you are ready to rent the room to me.

I’ll be waiting to read back from you with the information requested
so that i can forward it to my father to issue out the check for the
deposit and month rent up front as soon as possible, with that you can
hold on the place prior my arrival… Waiting to hear from you sooner
and thanks for your co-operation

I got a very similar email from aliceleeworld@gmail.com and knew it was strange that someone wants to rent a room without seeing and paying the full amount. I advised her it was not normal practice, and I always meet the potential tenant to ensure they are the right match fr the other housemates, but accepted her circumstances. I requested the following details from her to asses the legitimacy of what she was stating –
– last months pay slip
– letter from her employer stating her employment status
– working VISA to work in Australia
– a copy of her passport

She emailed me back requesting I send her a rental application and Bank account details as a fair exchange for her personal details. I emailed her back stating, until I reference your identification and working status, I can not proceed any further. The emails have ceased.
I was suspicious, but was interested in her rental request, but after I tried to find her on facebook and google and Linkn, and found nothing, I was very sure it was a scam.
Thank you for all previous post.
Its been very helpful.

Kristine Nita Scott
To Michael Shore
Today at 9:24 AM
Thanks for getting back to me regarding my Car, i am planning on
having it delivered to you before my arrival so that you can come and
pick me up at the airport and settle in comfortably, you can
understand that transiting cross Atlantic is not easy so i am making
arrangement with the car dealer to deliver the car before my arrival,
after the rent and security deposit has been paid to you by my dad.
I’ll ask you for a favor here, can i rely on you to take delivery of
the car for me when it’s delivered. I’ll like to know the convenient
time for you to receive the car for me. As you’ll be handling the
delivery of the car with the rent and deposit to be sent to you so
that you can help me handle the delivery payment for the car, the car
money has been included with the check coming to you. I’ll really
appreciate if you can do this for me and promise to compensate you
adequately for your time and efforts on my arrival into your place.
Please let me know at once if i can trust you to have the rest fund to
the Car Dealer Agent once you get the check, i will be expecting your
e-mail as soon as you receive my e-mail. Thanks so much for your
understanding…

Hi Mike,
I’ve been looking to rent a room using craigslist and roomster. So far every response I get sends me a cellphone text that seems to be a automated response to go to another site and registered. Only once have I had contact with a live person and met. Even though that situation did not work out, I’m still looking and still being ask for a phone number and then receiving that weird text by phone. What does the text mean? Is it a scam?
Thanks, Freaked out in Cali

Hi
I received this email in Craigslist and as I searched the google it’s a scam. I hope this message is useful.

I’m glad to hear the room is still available for rent. My name is
Claire Cassidy,I am 23 yrs old female student,fun loving and
respectful of others.A non-smoker, don’t do drugs,i drink
occasionally,and drama free.I’m from Edmonton Canada I graduated last
year in University Of Alberta I am a very easy going Christian Girl
that love going to Church and attend services , have no children i
speak both French and English ,I am coming to proceed with my masters
degree in micro-biology as my parents wants me to further more with my
Educational Career in the state..I’m really interested in renting the
room from you and i want you to know that i really love pets but I
don’t have any at the moment. I also would have loved to see the room
in person but since i am presently not in the state then i wont be
able to see until the point of moving in so I will like to tell you
that i will be moving in immediately after the payment arrangement has
been settled and my dad will be responsible for everything so you have
nothing to worry about I could have called you to discuss this with
you but this is a remote area and can’t make international calls as
well so you need to get back to me with the your Full Name and Address
and Phone Number for the payment to be made as I don’t want to waste
time to secure the room .I will also like you to tell me more about
yourself if you have the chance will also like to know if you have a
garage or parking space as I will be having my own car get delivered
to the house before my coming so i will send your contact to my dad
for him to email you later and he will be the one responsible for my
bills so you are to get back to me with your Full Name and your Home
Address and your phone number as well for the payment to be made as
soon as possible for you to be able to hold the room for me till i
move in completely. I will be looking forward to your email soon.

Just wanted to update you on a scammer like this that i came into contact with–she claims to be Annie Nicholas, and her email is nichann001@gmail.com

she played the whole my dad has been sick thing, i asked her repeatedly for paperwork and when i gave her a deadline to get me the paperwork by, she randomly sent me a check from BBCN bank in los angeles, and the name was Craig Perry, someone I didn’t know and had never been mentioned in our exchanges. She, as all of these other scams have stated, sent me too much money and said that 1400 dollars was for her flight. Things went as far as me getting the check and depositing it. Once that was done, they began to hound me to transfer the money as soon as possible for her flight. I became extremely suspicious when they gave me multiple ways to wire the money that involved me going to a moneygram location or doing the immediate day of western union transfer. I work as a public defender and was irritated because I didn’t have the time for it, but I immediately became suspicious. I did research, found this page and I called them out on the scam. They bombarded me with emails and texts about how angry they were and how there was more to the story, then the night I accused them of scamming me her dad miraculously just died. needless to say, I was not moved and the check bounced. I have all the info from the emails and text messages and will definitely be turning them over to law enforcement–note to everyone, if you actually save the check and all correspondence its actually pretty easy for the pros to track them down.

Just wanted to add another cautionary name to the list–but the emails looked just like the ones shown here, so everyone be careful!

Good to hear back from you, I’m interested in renting the room. My
name is Laura Edward i was born in France (Paris) i speak both French
& English, am single, fun, loving, clean, loyal and respectful of
others, don’t have any pet. More about me, my father is from US and my
mother is from France. I’m 22yrs old, sex female, i attend American
University of Paris, graduated a year ago.

I’m coming to stay for a year, and am coming for my master’s degree.
I’m currently in Alaska in a village “Nunivak Island” on a research
work and will be coming soon… I’ll be arriving September, I’ll loved
to call you but here is a remote area calls are very hard to go
through, please send me some picture of the room because i will not be
able to come over and check on it before renting.

Please tell me little about yourself…if you are a student?,
working?, married or single?, if there is a garage or parking space
because i will be coming with my own car. Let me know the total amount
for the first month rent, i will be paying upfront so that you can be
rest assured that am really interested in renting the room from you…

My mode of payment is US Check, so please feed me back with the
following details so that i can ensure you are ready to rent the room
to me.

I’ll be waiting to read back from you with the information requested
so that i can forward it to my father to issue out the check for the
deposit and month rent upfront as soon as possible, with that you can
hold on the place prior my arrival… Thanks for your co-operation

Put an ad at rentfaster.ca and got a scam. Stupid people:
“Hello ,
How are you doing today, I am very happy to inform you that the payment for Grace’s has been mailed out to you by my client..But there was a little problem which i guess we can handle with understanding….I instructed my client to send out the money to you but there was a mistake in the issuance of the check…I told him to send you the exact rent and also told him to send some money to Grace’s travel agent in another check but he claimed he did not get the information clearly so he made all the money out to you but i guess it is a small thing we can work out.
we will get through it.what will happen is that ,once you get the check and cash it, deduct the rent for Grace’s move in…After that You will deduct extra $100 for yourself which will serve as compensation cus i guess am taking you thru stress for helping me out in solving this lil problem my client caused.. Then you will have the balance forwarded to Grace’s travel agent who will work on Her paper so she can be in state as soon as possible via WESTERN UNION …I just want to get everything set for her since i may not even be around at her move in date…. i travel alot due to the nature of my work.
So as soon as you have the cash and have deducted all necessary charges and have the balance forwarded to her travel agent.
I will provide you with the informations of her travel agent information as soon as possible.
I hope you will be able to render this assistance to her for her to be in state as soon as possible.
Thank you and i hope to read from you soon.
Mr Marcus”

Regarding my Car, i am planning on having it delivered to you before my arrival so that you can come and pick me up at the airport and settle in comfortably, you can understand that transiting cross Atlantic is not easy so i am making arrangement with the car dealer to deliver the car before my arrival, after the rent and security deposit has been paid to you by my dad.I’ll ask you for a favor here, can i rely on you to take delivery of the car for me when it’s delivered. I’ll like to know the convenient time for you to receive the car for me. As you’ll be handling the delivery of the car with the rent and deposit to be sent to you so that you can help me handle the delivery payment for the car, the car money has been included with the check coming to you. I’ll really appreciate if you Thanks
-Sent free from TextNow.com

Beware of Andrestrgr@gmail.com andkristinavac@gmail.com
They are both the same person. He or she claims to be from Cananda and goes by the name “Cindy Cassidy” as usual they have an excuse if why they can’t meet or talk to you on the phone but wants to make arangements for “payments” Don’t do it! I caught on to it early thank goodness.

Thanks so much for your quick reply I’m interested in renting the room. My name is Victoria Whitford i was born in France (Paris) i speak both French & English, am single, fun,loving,clean, loyal and respectful of others, don’t have any pet. More about me, my father is from US and my mother is from France. I’m 26yrs old, sex female, i attend American University of Paris, graduated a year ago.

I’m coming to stay for a year, and am coming for my master’s degree.I’m currently in Guam (Sinajana)” on a research work and will be coming soon…i’ll loved to call you but here is a remote area calls are very hard to go through, please send me some picture of the room if you can because i will not be able to come over and check on it before renting.

Please tell me little about yourself…if you are a student?,working?, married or single?, if there is a garage or parking space because i will be coming with my own car. Let me know the total amount for the first month rent, i will be paying upfront so that you can be rest assured that am really interested in renting the room from you…

I will be paying via a Bank certified check, so please get back to me with the following details so that i can ensure you are ready to rent the room to me. I will sign all necessary papers/Lease at the point of my arrival because there is no printer and scanner close to me.

I’ll be waiting to read back from you with the information requested so that i can forward it to my father to issue out the check for the deposit and month rent upfront as soon as possible, with that you can hold on the place prior my arrival.Thanks for your co-operation.

Well miss “Ruby” is the latest here is “her” post sent only a few mins ago. Her email only says “Ruby”.

Hi my name is ruby , I’m looking for a place to stay while I’m here working in town . Look for s month to month arrangement .call if you can after 6:00 pm . Thank you
All these scammers needs to get their azz whopped one if these days. This is so dusgusting, Its sad how desperate and deceitful people can be.

ShreeWright12 is trying it! beware!!
here is the email they sent
Usually they claim to be out of the country but this person has a “local number”. They are changing their tatics and story now since people are catching on! I read that scammers overseas are buying prepaid cell phones and spoofing the caller ID to show it as a local number! They even reaponded using the code I had at the bottom of my ad. Wow!!

“WELCOME”

Hello my name is shree I’m a 21 year old female I’m a dancer I’m very active ‘ like to go running ‘ I’m hockey player and a wrestler my fave sports I play on my free time at the anoka and osseo ice arena ‘ I’m very clean well organized . I’m drama free I love kids and animals. I’m very reliable and trust worthy I love socializing and getting to know people I’m very open about my parts of my life ‘ I’m a mother my child lives with my parents for the time being until I’m able to fully support the both of us I had him in a bad situation decided to keep him anyway I love him more then anything on this earth ‘ I love fruits and veggies . I also do have a partner we are a female couple she works 2 jobs and attending school . if that’s a problem I’m sorry for that ‘ I love the out door I like grilling and doing yard work lol I’m very girly but like doing men jobs ‘ I’m not a party type of person I occasionally go to a bar maybe once every 3 months or depending on what it is like a celebration or something of that sort. I like to sing. I love cooking it’s a speciality I have (612-404-5082 main number ) . 612-386-1737 please call or text me if interested in me I’m looking to move as soon as possible . Thank you for your time hope to hear from you soon.

I think I am totally being scammed! Here is the email she just sent me. It fits this exact scammer description. She claims that she is in Alaska
and she can’t speak to me on the phone. Her name is Anita Whitney apparently.

“Hey! How are you doing? I’m happy to keep you updated that the Check
has been mail out to you. Regarding my Car….Well as you can
understand that transiting car is not easy, i need to own my
transportation in the city. Have made a proper arrangement with a Car
delivery agent, to deliver my new Toyota Camry Car to you, before my
arrival. I’ll also appreciate it, if you could pick me up at the
airport, if not. i’ll take a cab.

But there is a mistake on Check issue out to you. Check have to be
two, While One for my rent and other One for my Car. I got to know
that, it’s been issued out in One Check sent out to you. Please I’m
very sorry for the over-payment, it wasn’t done deliberately, Ok.
Immediately you have the Check, deposited Check at your bank to
cleared. Deduct your First month deposit and transfer the remaining
balance to the Car Delivery Agent via Western Union. I’ll email you
the Car Delivery Agent Western Union information needed for the
deposit, once you have the Cheque.

Have you ever sent money through Western Union before?

I promise to compensate you adequately for your time and efforts, on
my arrival into your place. I’m so eager to meet you. Thanks! while i
wait to read from you ASAP”

Hello, Good to hear from you, I’m interested in renting the room. My name is Anita Whitney,i was born in France (Paris) i speak French English (English not Fluently), am single, fun, loving, clean, loyal
and respectful of others, don’t have pet. More about me, my father is
>>>>> from US and my mother is from France. I’m 22yrs old, sex female, i attend American University of Paris, graduated a year ago. I’m coming to stay for a year, and am coming for my master’s degree. I’m currently in Alaska in a village “Nunivak Island” on a research
work and will be coming soon… I’ll be arriving November 10th, I’ll like to have call you, but here is a remote area calls are very hard
to go through, please send me some picture of the room because i will
not be able to come over, to check on it before renting.
>>>>>
>>>>> Please tell me little about yourself…if you are a student?,
>>>>> working?, married or single?, if there is a garage or parking space
>>>>> because i will be coming with my own car. Let me know the total amount
>>>>> for the first month rent, i will be paying upfront so that you can be rest assured that am really interested in renting the room from you…

My mode of payment is US certified check, so please feed me back with
the following details so that i can ensure you are ready to rent the
room to me.

I’ll be waiting to read back from you with the information requested so that i can forward it to my father to issue out the check for deposit and month rent upfront as soon as possible, with that you can
hold on the place prior my arrival… Thanks
Anita

Thanks for all the comments everyone, I received the same emails immediately upon posting, that was a red flag from the get go. I really think we and our country should pool together somehow to get these people. Be great if the FBI used us to follow through with the scammers requests and try to ping their IP address, I’m sure they have mechanisms to distort but there are some high-tech techy’s out there that love this stuff. These bad people are ruining people’s lives and making humanity worse. Hopefully our next President and our allies can figure something out to stop the madness.

I got your email and I am so glad to read back from you. I am
pleased to know that the room is still available for rent, I have
checked the advert again and I want you to know that the total move in
cost (Rent/Deposit) is okay with me,could you send me the pictures via
email, as I would like to see the place.Please understand that I’ll
not be able to check out the place not till my arrival and I’d like to
take a decision now.I will like to share a little
about myself.I am 23 Old, I don’t smoke but if my roommate is a smoker
it wouldn’t matter, I just take it as my fate. I drink occasionally,
I’m financially secure, I’m quiet and easy with myself and willing to
share the room chores as a prospective tenant. I’m a Registered
Occupational Therapist and I sell plates, screws, bone graft
substitutes etc for facial fractures and other cases. I also deal with
ENT, Plastics, Neuron, and even Cardiographs surgeons on a daily basis
that need my products for surgeries, and I’ve also worked with nurses
in the United Nations on a project that includes heart related
diseases in
children in the past, So I love what I do. I’m very happy that I got
to view the advert, and I will appreciate only if I’m able to secure
the spot.

How long/short is the lease period? I would love to rent the place
for 5 months or more depending on what you are comfortable with, just
let me know ahead of time. I’ll be busy with work preparing for a
journey to RSA for a seminar but I will like you to get back to me as
soon as you can so that I can make preparations for the deposit fee to
be sent out to you before I leave. I will be arriving once the seminar
is over around by (Jan 5) and have my lease start to run from that
date.

As regards payment for the rent and deposit,my major financier will be
effecting your payment to you as soon as you give me the go ahead to
do so.I believe we can work together and ensure every arrangements
that we shall both execute in line with my taking up the tenancy
should be done accordingly to ensure we have a proper understanding.As
regards the lease agreement,if there is any,i want you to send it to
me for my review,i will eventually have it filled and signed on my
arrival in your place and i will abide by it I will appreciate a quick
response from you so that we can move ahead

Hello,
Thanks for getting back to me, am interested in staying in the room for a Lease period. My name is Betty Atkinson, was born and raised in
Lima, Ohio . I speak English and a little Chinese, am single, clean and respectful of others, don’t have any pet but no problem if you
have got pets. My Dad is from Barrow, Alaska and Mom is from Guangzhou, China. I’m 23 year old female,I obtained my bachelor’s
degree (Arts and Social Sciences) from the Akron, Ohio.
I would be there for my Master’s Degree in Visual arts education. I’m presently on Shackleford Banks, North Carolina on a research
program with the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) but would be coming down soon. I would have love to call you, but here is a remote area calls hardly go through but i receive text messages. please send me some picture of the room because i will not be able to come over and check on it before moving in.
I would love to know more about yourself. If you are a student? worker? married or single? if there is a garage or parking space
because i will be coming with my own car. Let me know the total amount for the deposit and first month rent, I will be paying upfront so that
you can be rest assured that i really do want to secure the room.
I will be paying you via a Bank certified check, so kindly get back to me with the below details so that i can ensure you are ready to rent
the room to me. I would be signing necessary documents/Lease at the point of my arrival because i have got no printer and scanner here
with me.
Here are the Details needed
**Full Name:
**Street Address, City, State, Zip Code:
**Cell & Home #:
**Total amount for move in:
Kindly get back to me with the details requested so that i can get it across to my father to issue out the check for the deposit and
month rent upfront asap, with that you can hold on the place prior my arrival.
Thanks for your co-operation.
Betty Atkinson

Hello to you there,I just received your email response right now and i am happy to read from you too.I got your reply and its good to read your response in respect of the room.I will be glad to rent the room.What is the total move in cost?

Well about me,i am 29 single female,my dad is actually from Montana, while my mum is from England.I just came down here to run a nursing assignment in England.I want to secure a room down there cos i plan to get back to states latest by NOV 25th cos i am thinking of taking another program later on by the late end of this year over there.I am friendly,easy-going and dedicated to my job.I travel a lot with my job and i enjoy meeting people.I am very friendly and quite easy to get along with.I will like to have a roomate who is understanding and also trustworthy.I am not violent and i have good habits.In my leisure hours i read and go to the cinemas too.I really look forward to my coming over .

I am willing to rent the room from NOV 25th so i’ll like to know more about the room.I will like to know more about the total move in cost.This is my private email address so you should keep me posted this week.Kindly let me know if you can hold the room for me cos i am planing to come back to states latest by NOV 25thcos they will get my flight ticket into the international airport as soon as i have finished up here.I really look forward to reading your reply too.
Regards,

Looking for a room / apartment with a budget in the $800-1100 range after utilities. My ideal roommate is someone that I would enjoy socializing with from time to time. We don’t necessarily need to be tied to the hip to each other, but at the same time I want something beyond just sharing living space and splitting a rent check. Cleanliness is highly appreciated as I’m a neat-freak.

If you think that we might be a good fit, or if you have other questions, don’t hesitate to send me an e-mail…….. finemist18181@gmail.com

About me:
I’m pretty laid back, drama free kinda girll, I’m extremely respectful of other’s living areas. I don’t do drugs or drink really. I’ll usually be focusing on getting through school & starting my career, which means I pretty much keep to myself alot , but am not opposed to hanging out or having dinner together.

Please reply to my email above if interested and tell me a little bit about your house and family.
If possible with the pictures.
Thanks

I am an easy going, middle-aged female, looking for a reasonably-priced room and bath . This could be a house or an apartment. Furnished is fine or I can buy my own things. Need to move Dec 1 so be sure to email me directly here alistensx@gmail.com .

If you have pets, more power to you. Hit me up if you could use a little extra cash, without a loud, obnoxious, pest roommate.I am looking to move in as soon as possible. I am also able to pay my share of expenses on time. I’m pretty laid back, very personable, responsible, and reliable. I do not smoke, drink, or use drugs, Neither do I have a criminal history of any kind, or any pets. It may be unfurnished or furnished, as i do have few things though. If you an available rental, please contact me a me cost of rent and other details. Hoping to find something soon.

Yep I’m renting a room cause I’m broke. And
Sure enough I get a scammer similar to
All the others. Name alias using is Laura Enswearry.
I have no money in my bank etc. bunch of idiots wasted
My and theirs time. Guess they mailed the bogus
Check out. Guess I get a good laugh when
The bogus check shows up. Also put bogus
Pic

This scam is alive and well. The current incarnation seems to have accessed a US companies checking account and is trying to get me to ‘deposit and forward the difference’. Exchanges students from Viet Nam this time. I should have recognized the girl’s photo from PornHub.

Sounds a lot like this message i recieved from Ryan Martins about my craigslist ad for some clothing items I had for sale:
Message #1- Thanks you for the response according to the description,am okay
with the price and the condition pasted on cl. I am ready to
make instant purchase. My mode of payment would be in Certified Check
and i will arrange for a local pick up as soon as you get the check,
because that is the only inconvenient means for me and due to my work
frame i can not be able to get there and i promise everything will go
smoothly.I really wish to be there to check out the item but i don’t
have chance cause am very busy person (CONSULTANT NEUROSURGEON).
Concerning the pick up, i will arrange for it after you receive
the payment and it clears… Pls get back to me with below info
so that i can proceed with the payment immediately.

Full Name:
Address: Not P.O.BOX
City:
State:
Postal Code:
Total amount for the item
Phone Number: That i can send text
Item Name:

what other item do you have:
How much is it:

And as soon as this is provided, the payment will be mail to you
Thanks and i hope we
handle this in good faith while waiting to hear from you. i will add
an additional $50 so that you can hold it for me till the check reaches you.

Message #2- I will need your honest and trust and
your updating to end up this transaction..I will like to know if i can
trust you with my money because am sending you a check and the payment
will be made out immediately i heard from you. I will provide the
tracking # as soon as it as been sent out, “More so” i’m include the
shipment funds in the amount on the check because i don’t have time to
come down for a look of the items but as soon as the check as fully
cleared in your bank, you will deduct your own money for the item plus
extra $50 for yourself as running around fee and you will send the
remaining money to the mover that will come for the pick up for me
through money Transfer…. Thanks for your mail and understanding once again.
Thank you Mike for the original post! Saved me the headache of proceeding any further. Well I guess I have a sweatshirt, boots, and a jacket still for sale if interested lol.

”
Hi, Thanks for your email. I love shopping alot.. Is there a Walmart or Walgreen store around you? Also, I will be shipping my BMW car. I hope you can show me places around when i come.

I am extremely interested in renting the place. Well, I will be making a payment for the first month rent or deposit before my arrival so that you can secure it for my ahead of my arrival. I want you to know that i am serious about renting it. My boss will be sending it to you and you will get it this week, paying my rent would not be a burden to me. I will need the following information so that the payment can be sent out to you soon. I will need your

– Your full name as it will appear on the check ,
– Your address to ensure delivery in your hands through regular
mails or a courier service this week,
– Your phone number to keep contact close and avoid package missing in
transit.

Kindly get back to me with this.

Anxiously waiting for your response.

Have a pleasant day.

Sarah Morgan
1052 Wanaka St,
Honolulu HI, 96818

NB: Can you please stop talking to other people since i am extremely interested? I don’t mind paying you $100 for taking down the ad so that you can stop talking to them. This can stand as commitment fee
”

A common variation on this scam is for them to ask you to receive their car or anything else and pay the shipper from the overpayment of the rent advance.
Of course the check would bounce and you would be out what you paid the shipper.
Anytime anyone expects money back from you for any purpose, it is a scam, period.

Yah marycole690@gmail.com is a scam. Got sent 3 emails from her stating she wanted to move in December 15th, got another email that said December 20th, and got one final email saying January 7th. Do not give her any details.

I have seen this scam for a very long time. I rent rooms to college students. I always ask questions. Scams do not answer the questions. Also many times they ask for The address my full name and telephone number and rent. In this case I give the White House address, a telephone number ending in 911 and Obamas name plus 1 Trillion dollars. BTW normally people do not send money with out seeing the room or meeting me. I have only had case that a guy did this. He called me though and never gave a personal description of him self.

I’m glad to hear the room is still available for rent. My name is
Allisson Anthony,I am 23 yrs old female student,fun loving and
respectful of others.A non-smoker, don’t do drugs,i drink
occasionally,and drama free.I’m from Edmonton Canada I graduated last
year in University Of Alberta I am a very easy going Christian Girl
that love going to Church and attend services , have no children i
speak both French and English ,I am coming to proceed with my masters
degree in micro-biology as my parents wants me to further more with my
Educational Career in the state..I’m really interested in renting the
room from you and i want you to know that i really love pets but I
don’t have any at the moment. I also would have loved to see the room
in person but since i am presently not in the state then i wont be
able to see until the point of moving in so I will like to tell you
that i will be moving in immediately after the payment arrangement has
been settled and my dad will be responsible for everything so you have
nothing to worry about I could have called you to discuss this with
you but this is a remote area and can’t make international calls as
well so you need to get back to me with the your Full Name and Address
and Phone Number for the payment to be made as I don’t want to waste
time to secure the room .I will also like you to tell me more about
yourself if you have the chance will also like to know if you have a
garage or parking space as I will be having my own car get delivered
to the house before my coming so i will send your contact to my dad
for him to email you later and he will be the one responsible for my
bills so you are to get back to me with your Full Name and your Home
Address and your phone number as well for the payment to be made as
soon as possible for you to be able to hold the room for me till i
move in completely. I will be looking forward to your email soon.

Respectfully.

What threw me was the weird punctuation, and it was the third email account i had seen from them. unfortunately i responded before googling, but any roommates I have have to be added to the lease and pay the leasing office directly anyway (learned the hard way). now im just pissed they have a phone number.

Here is mine, knew it was scam immediately since they could not call due to being in a remote location but they are more than wiling to just send money to someone they don’t know

Allisson Anthony
7:41 AM (1 hour ago)

to me
Thanks for your response.

I’m glad to hear the room is still available for rent. My name is
Allisson Anthony,I am 23 yrs old female student,fun loving and
respectful of others.A non-smoker, don’t do drugs,i drink
occasionally,and drama free.I’m from Edmonton Canada I graduated last
year in University Of Alberta I am a very easy going Christian Girl
that love going to Church and attend services , have no children i
speak both French and English ,I am coming to proceed with my masters
degree in micro-biology as my parents wants me to further more with my
Educational Career in the state..I’m really interested in renting the
room from you and i want you to know that i really love pets but I
don’t have any at the moment. I also would have loved to see the room
in person but since i am presently not in the state then i wont be
able to see until the point of moving in so I will like to tell you
that i will be moving in immediately after the payment arrangement has
been settled and my dad will be responsible for everything so you have
nothing to worry about I could have called you to discuss this with
you but this is a remote area and can’t make international calls as
well so you need to get back to me with the your Full Name and Address
and Phone Number for the payment to be made as I don’t want to waste
time to secure the room .I will also like you to tell me more about
yourself if you have the chance will also like to know if you have a
garage or parking space as I will be having my own car get delivered
to the house before my coming so i will send your contact to my dad
for him to email you later and he will be the one responsible for my
bills so you are to get back to me with your Full Name and your Home
Address and your phone number as well for the payment to be made as
soon as possible for you to be able to hold the room for me till i
move in completely. I will be looking forward to your email soon.

Thanks for getting back to me with the information requested. I got
the information and I’ll have it forward to my father to issue out
payment to you on time. I really appreciate that you are ready to
accept me roommate, please have little patience for the check to
arrive to your address and also secure the room prior my arrival. I’ll
e-mail by giving you an update about the status in regards to the
payment and also provide the tracking number from the carrier service,
further more i need you to take the ad down CL, that will give me a
strong prove that the room has been hold prior my arrival so that
other interested people will not make any enquirer..

Regarding my Car…. I’m planning on having it delivered to you
before my arrival so that you can come and pick me up at the airport
and settle in comfortably, you can understand that transiting cross
Atlantic is not easy so i am making arrangement with the car dealer to
deliver the car before my arrival, once the rent and security deposit
has been paid to you by my father. I’ll ask you for a favor here, can
i rely on you to take delivery of the car for me when it’s delivered
?, as you’ll be handling the delivery of the car along with the rent
and deposit, the car money has been included with the check coming to
you. I’ll really appreciate if you can do this for me and promise to
compensate you adequately for your time and efforts on my arrival into
your place.

Let me know at once if i can trust you to have the rest fund to the
car dealership agent once you get the check, i will be expecting your
e-mail as soon as you receive my e-mail. Thanks so much for your
understanding…

This same Craigslist ad appears nearly verbatim every couple of days in Houston. Each time, he says he was arrested last night. It’s a good story, but I guarantee its 100% fake.

reply x prohibited[?] Posted: about 4 hours ago
◀ prev ▲ next ▶
Wanted to get off drugs. Need help!
I don’t like asking for help, but this is an emergency.
First off we are not asking for any money, just a place to live within walking distance to get a job. Currently we are living way out in Rye Texas. Neither myself Robert Cash or my girlfriend Angela Smith has family that can help. I’m my case I was an only child and my family has passed away years ago. I planned on killing myself before Christmas of this year.
About three weeks ago I started getting hi every day on meth so I could push away the only person left in my life, ANGELA SMITH.
I have had a pain deep inside me for a very long time now as combined with the stress of life in general, I have no living family, no real friends. And now after last night when I was arrested in Polk county Texas for possession of a controlled substance. At the time I have been up for at least 6 days. I have not been home or seen my girlfriend Angela Smith for days at a time. I have been picking up dope whores and even bringing them to my house to make Angela mad enough to leave me. The entire time i was thinking if she would only leave me then I could finally end my life.
I have felt so alone inside for so long I was ready for things to come to an end. I looked at everyone as they all are shallow and self centered and ALL women were only around to get what they can from you. That’s why I have treated women as nothing more than something to fuck. I am known to have multiple women in bed at the same time. Even had more than one woman living with me.
But the last few days while being high, I no longer wanted to have sex anymore. I knew it was my time to die. So I came home only to find Angela waiting to love me even though I had a dope whore with me. WHAT THE FUCK!
All I could do was think “why won’t this woman leave me?” So the other woman got mad for some reason and left. All night long there was so many cops out on the road as I was out with a quart size ziploc bag of meth. I was supplying to others about as much as I was doing.
After the other woman got mad and left the house I asked Angela if she would like to ride with me as I went across town. It wasn’t long until we passed a cop and you
the rest.
I sit here now across the table from Angela, feeling totally lost! I have no idea what or who I am anymore. I no longer feel the pain inside me, well other than going threw withdraws and sinus drippage.
But what do I do? Neither of us has any family that we can turn too for help. We are miles away from any place that we could get a job. We have less than $100 as I always made sure she had money here at home for her to leave.
I am writing this for two reasons. #1. For me to finally say this and to get over it.
#2. To ask someone, ANYONE for a solution.
We have not paid for the place we are living, and now we have no car. We need to find a place that is close to somewhere we can find a job. WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR MONEY! We just want to be able to have some place to stay while we start over. We have not been going to church so we feel bad even if we was to ask one.

So what do I know about myself now? Absolutely nothing other than I no longer wish to die so in turn I no longer want to do drugs. So now I don’t have any friends. I don’t know who I am anymore. Today I feel so lost, but finally no longer alone.

Please if you have any answers feel free to contact us. show contact info is Angela’s phone “since the police still has my phone”
Thank you:
Robert Cash and Angela Smith

I replied asking for more info and possibly offering to help. The response I got was;

Thank you for your offer of concern. To support my drug habit I sold most of our clothes and other things so we only need a small room to stay in. We don’t expect to stay for free, and I do have a check from my last job. It is for $1000. Because of my arrest I cannot cash this check, as it will be held by my bank for overdrafts used to pay for my bonding out of jail. I would like to stay with you for maybe four weeks, and I feel that I could pay you $100 for each week.

I’ll sign my pay check over to you. You can keep the $400 after you deposit it, and give me $600 for transportation and food until we get employed again. I’d be forever grateful. Let me know if you need more information. God bless you. Please let me know if and when we can move in.

I’m a professional female seeking a room to rent, I’m also open to sharing a place with a responsible male or female. I am pretty laid back, easy going, personable, responsible, and reliable. I do not smoke, drink or do drugs and have no pets but do not have any problem if you do. I clean up after myself, my environment and i am able to pay my rents and other bills on time. Contact me if you have or know of a place that might interest me, please send the information (location, price, utilities and parking if included).

Thanks

Here is their reply to my email:
Hi, thanks for emailing me, I am looking to rent soon and i think its fair to let you know about me, My name’s Angelica Williams, 27y/o single female, self sufficient, easygoing and fun to be around. I do not smoke, drink nor do drugs. I clean up after myself as well as my environment, I am respectful of other people’s privacy and opinions. I am pet friendly but do not own any. I’m from Spearfish, S.Dakota and still here, the reason behind my move, is simply because of change. And this is about time as i just lost my mother to cancer (I have been putting off my move just because she’s been sick for long). I have been wanting to try a new place, have new experience, and most importantly achieve my goals. I am a travel Nurse by profession, but teaching yoga is what i love doing, I have broad knowledge of yoga/wellness as i had the opportunity to learn that in India 3 years ago and i have been teaching people here too. I am a christian, Yoga to me is about the purity of the body and mind/improving health and I will never bring it home if you object to it. About rent, I have money saved up, so you wouldn’t have to worry about me paying rent/bills on time till i get settled. I plan making my own yoga video and I also will be looking to rent a space in the area(or maybe gym) when i move, as i planned giving yoga classes to people there when i move. I am financially reliable and it has been a plus making money from teaching yoga as a lot of people look after themselves now in an easy way. I will like to find a place before i start looking around for something physical/permanent at hospitals there too. I choose to tell you all about me as i need no drama, so please email me back if you are looking to rent ASAP and let me know if i am someone you’d like to rent to. I will provide my number, pics and other informations as long as i am sure that you’d be renting to me in next emails. Thanks for your time and i await your next email.

Hello, Sorry for the late response, I am looking to rent soon and i think its fair to let you know about me, My name’s Vanessa Mason, 27y/o single female, easygoing and fun to be around. I don’t smoke, drink nor do drugs. I clean up after myself, as well as my environment, I am respectful of other eople’s privacy and opinions. I am pet friendly but do not own any. I’m from Rapid City, S.Dakota and the reason behind my move is simply because of change. And this is about time as i just lost my mother to cancer (I have been putting off my move just because she’s been sick for long). I have been wanting to try a new place, have new experience, and most importantly achieve my goals. I am a travel Nurse by profession, but teaching yoga is what i love doing, I have broad knowledge of yoga/wellness as i had the opportunity to learn that in India 3 years ago and i have been teaching people here too. I am a christian, and yoga to me is about the purity of the body and mind/improving health and I will never bring it home if you object to it. About rent, I have money saved up, so you wouldn’t have to worry about me paying rent/bills on time till i get settled. I plan making my own yoga video and I also will be looking to rent a space in the area(or maybe gym) when i move, as i planned giving yoga classes to people there when i move. I am financially reliable and it has been a plus making money from teaching yoga as a lot of people look after themselves now in an easy way. I will like to find a place before i start looking around for something physical/permanent at hospitals there too. I choose to tell you all about me as i need no drama, so please email me back if you are looking to rent ASAP and let me know if i am someone you’d like to rent to. I will provide my number, pics and other informations as long as i am sure that you’d be renting to me in next emails. Thanks for your time and i await your next email with details.

Vanessa Mason

THEN

Hi, I am happy to read from you, a person like you is whom i hope to rent from. I would have loved to see and meet with you before anything but i am still here in south dakota, and it will be stressful for me to make a trip overthere and coming back here to finish the things i have left to do, So we have to work something out. I know its not easy to rent without meeting but most people meet somehow and you can be rest assured that i am with good values and i can put up in a hotel for a 2 days or 3 before i move in. I want you to know that i am just trying to make this work for me. My pictures are being attached with this email, i just want to secure a place now, so i can start with my moving preparations, with that, i can be able to give you a move in date and other information you may require. And if you choose to rent to me, i promise you are not going to regret it, as am reliable, financially capable and will never be late on rent/bills. I am open to lease as well as month to month. I’ll respect your opinions and rules. I chose there because a former colleague is from there and i have always wanted to visit. I also want you to know that i have some personal effects and I just bought my toyota camry so its coming with me ( i can park on street if there is no parking space). Please, I am looking to move in as soon as possible, my move in date is flexible as it depends on the availability of and how soon i am able to secure the rental. I recently lost my cell phone but am getting a temp one in a day or 2, and i’d be emailing you with a phone # in my next email so we can connect via phone and exchange text messages if you have a text plan. Please understand that I just want to have firm plans before moving. I am not a fan of the social media thing especially facebook, but if you do want me to open one, I would consider it. Hope to read from you ASAP.

Vanessa Mason

THEN

Hi again, I am glad to have met you and thanks for the sincerity, I believe people do meet somehow, and i feel we will get along very well. So far with the emails we have exchanged, i am perfectly okay with everything and willing to move ahead with this. If you would like, i can put up in a hotel there for few days when i arrive there, for you to see if you’d be comfortable with me and run a check on me. I am sure you would be okay with me, it feels like i have known you for long. And before i start taking huge steps here, (i planned making dvd’s, online yoga classes too) I would want to have a place secured now, so i know i have a place to move into. I think its the best thing to do, so i wouldnt have to worry about finding a place or you renting to someone else. After much thought, i think it’s best for me to secure the place with a (first month rent or deposit) payment. With that i w’d feel very comfortable knowing fully well that i have a place secured, (I wouldn’t have to make rent payment here too, as i also pay 2month’s rent in advance here). My schedule is very packed from next week, as i am just trying to make everything work. Being here now, i think the most reliable way of making payment is through Certified check, as it would be best/safest for both of us, so if it is okay by you and you are looking to rent to me, kindly provide me with the following information to get the payment to you: Your full name as it will appear on the payment, Address ( with apt #) to ensure delivery or P. O box address and best Phone number on the package to avoid package missing in transit. And i will need an email/text receipt as soon as you get the money. And future rents will be met on time. Please do provide me with the information needed and feel free to ask me any question(s) you have okay. The number you can text me on till i get my new phone is (605) 252-7781, and i will be calling you too. I am able to move in within the next 2 weeks if you let me secure it now.

I got your email and I am so glad to read back from you. I am
pleased to know that the room is still available for rent, I have
checked the advert on website again and I want you to know that the
total move in cost (Rent/Deposit) is okay with me, could you send me
the pictures via email, as I would like to see the place. Please
understand that I’ll not be able to check out the place not till my
arrival and I’d like to take a decision now. I will like to share a
little about myself. Am a busy Lady that love to work and am a
freshman here at the College Student and i am currently a pre-nursing
major. I will be applying at the end of this year for the nursing
program here. I am a very studious person but I do like to hang out
with friends. I’m still single and searching. I drink occasionally, I
like hardworking, honest, clean and responsible people and I dislike
lazy, untidy and uncaring people. I love pets but I do not have one
due to the nature of my busy schedule. I like the outdoors and I’m a
good swimmer and sometimes play tennis. I’m financially secure, time
conscious and see myself as a miss independent who pays her bills on
time. I’m quiet and easy with myself and willing to share the house
chores as a prospective tenant. I am a great cook and baker (love to
do both) I believe this about summarize what you need to know about
me?

I’m currently in Ohio to attend to a family emergency and will be
there in college soon. Furthermore, I will like to know more about you
and the neighborhood, is street parking allowed or paid for because I
will be coming over with my car. Will there be enough room for my
bed-room furniture? I will also like to know if you have vacuum
cleaner, laundry machine, dryer and refrigerator? If not can I come
with mine.

How long/short is the lease period? I would love to rent the place
for the time it is available for. I’ll be busy with my travel
arrangements but I will like you to get back to me as soon as you can
so that I can make preparations for the rent and deposit fee to be
sent out to you before my arrival in your place in order to secure the
place before i come. I believe we can work together and ensure every
arrangements that we shall both execute in line with my taking up the
tenancy should be done accordingly to ensure we have a proper
understanding.

As regards the lease agreement, if there is any, I want you to
send it to me for my review, I will eventually have it filled and
signed on my arrival in your place and i will abide by it I will
appreciate a quick response from you so that we can move ahead as
regards sending payment for rent and deposit to you.

I even send her 2 pictures and my address be careful everyone and thank you for posting this

Hello,
Thanks for the response to my email,I really do appreciate the breakdown details of the room. I’ll be so glad if you can reserve the room for me as i’ll love to rent the place.I am a humanitarian officer involved in projects that includes orphans,orphanages,heart related diseases in children between the ages of 4-5yrs.I will be staying for a minimum of 8-12months.

Am 26 years old from Canada Toronto. I don’t drink nor smoke but i’m cool living with people that do,no pets and no boyfriend because I am a very busy woman.I like honest,responsible,trustworthy and hard working people while I dislike lazy,messy,uncaring people and I love pets so much,am quiet and easy going person to live with.. I’m 5″7′ straight. Religion: Christianity,Marital Status: never been married,Weight: 53 kg 17 lbs I always love to go on date but seldomly party. I swim for fun and sometimes play tennis.

I like the job cos we are working in collaboration with the world health organization,hospital,health centres,medical and other health related institutions,it also involves traveling which is one of my hobbies,I must confess i’m comfortable with the cost of the room and its quite reasonable and affordable . I will like to make the payment for the first month ahead of my arrival, and then i will make subsequent payment thereafter as i plan to stay for more than 8months,’ve told my boss about this and he promised to make sure that he will meet up with the payment so that I can depart from here as scheduled.He also said I will have the advantage to make payment for deposit .I should arrive to US on before the Date 10th of Jan 2016, so pls keep room for me till my arrival.He also said my mode of payment will be the Most acceptable,easier,safer and reliable means of payment which is United State Certified cashiers check so please let me know if this mode of payment is ok by you.And if YES please provide me with the following information to get the payment to you.Your full name as it will appear on the payment,your work place address to ensure delivery in your hands through regular mails or a courier service,your phone number on the package to avoid package missing in transit.I will prefer to send to your work address because you will always be available at work from morning till evening but if home address it will be sitting in your mail and no one will be at home to receive the package. And if you don’t receive package at your office address then I guess your home address will be good for the delivery right ? But to avoid any delay of you receiving at home then I guess work address will be fine what do you think ? Kindly get back to me with this requested address contact information bellow so that we can proceed asap,do get back to me with your full information, attach my picture so you can know your future roommate.

(1)YOUR FULL NAME:
(2)YOUR CONTACT ADDRESS: .NOT PO BOX ADDRESS
(3)YOUR PHONE NUMBER#:
(4)Your email address so that my boss can sent the payment to you ok.
Feel free to ask me any question(s) you have okay…
Hope to read from you soon.
Kindest Regards,

Mary

Hello,
How are you doing? fine and hope you are having a wonderful day,Anyway i must tell you that am really happy about the information provided,and i will want you to know that i’m really interested in renting the place from you and i won’t take any chance in losing it.All i will want you to do for me is to please remove the advert from the sites as i will not want to lose it to another person.I’ ve contacted my Boss that will be responsible for the payment and he said he is okay by it and he promised to make the payment out to you via a cashiers check.

I will also want to inform you that i will be shipping over little of my bedroom furnitures and my car that my organization gave me, when i was promoted as Humanitarian officer and my boss as promised to include the money for the shipment with the money for the rent fees,so as soon as the shippers came to deliver my things,you will help me to give them the remaining money at the point of there delivery after you may have deducted the money for the rent fees.

Hope you can really understand this?i will really appreciate if you can do this for me,please do get back to me with your decision so that my boss can get the payment send to you as soon as possible Hope to read from you soon and will get intouch with you as soon as the payment as been sent.
Yours Truly,

URGENT —PAYMENT FOR THE FIRST MONTH RENT DEPOSIT HAS BEEN
> DELIVER FOR YOU TODAY VIA UPS KINDLY GET BACK TO ME ASAP THANK YOU.
> From: Cynthia Santos
> Hello ,
>
>
> How are you doing today hope great? i just want to thank you for
> the honest and trustworthy you are having towards this transaction and
> i want to bring it to your notice that the payment for the first month
> rent deposit has been deliver for you today via UPS courier service
> with the tracking # (**************) and in Amount of $1,950 you
> can track it at http://www.ups.com for your confirmation the check was left
> at your FRONT DOOR,So i would want you to follow my instruction on what to
> do
> ,Soon as you receive the payment in your hand, I will like you to take
> the check to your bank get it deposit it might take up to 24hrs for
> the check to be fully clear pleas take note,soon as it does deduct
> the month and deposit rent out of the cash with an extra amount of
> $50 for your running around and gas expenses then have rest money
> transfer to the car dealership agent information Via Money Gram Money
> transfer .
>
> Once again here is the car dealership agent information to send out
> the money to Via Money Gram Money Transfer
>
>
> Car dealership information Name: Michael Collette 576 Lawrence St,
> Lowell, MA 01852
>
> As soon as you have everything done, I will need the details of the
> transfer once you have sent fund . . .
>
> 1.The REFERENCE NUMBER ON THE MONEY GRAM RECEIPT
> 2.Sender’s name and address used in sending the money
> 3.Actual amount sent.
>
> Please pay off the Transfer charges from the remaining fund after you
> have deducted your money for the month rent and the $50 for you
> ruining around. Please also email me the best time you want my car
> dealer to come for the delivery of my car at your location and your
> map quest for easy way for the car dealer to know your house
> asap…*** pay off the transfer charges from the excess fund that is
> going to car dealer.
>
> The car is a 2008 Ford Taurus car and it comes with all the necessary
> papers.
>
> I will be looking forward to read from you soonest thank you and God bless

I just received this email this morning for my apartment for sublet, just like the one Dave received from an Ana Morgan.

Hi, Thanks for your email. I love shopping alot.. Is there a Walmart or Walgreen store around you? Also, I will be shipping my BMW car. I hope you can show me places around when i come.

I am extremely interested in renting the place. Well, I will be making a payment for the first month rent or deposit before my arrival so that you can secure it for my ahead of my arrival. I want you to know that i am serious about renting it. My boss will be sending it to you and you will get it this week, paying my rent would not be a burden to me. I will need the following information so that the payment can be sent out to you soon. I will need your

– Your full name as it will appear on the check ,
– Your address to ensure delivery in your hands through regular
mails or a courier service this week,
– Your phone number to keep contact close and avoid package missing in
transit.

Kindly get back to me with this.

Anxiously waiting for your response.

Have a pleasant day.

Ana Morgan
1052 Wanaka St,
Honolulu HI, 96818

NB: Can you please stop talking to other people since i am extremely interested? I don’t mind paying you $100 for taking down the ad so that you can stop talking to them. This can stand as commitment fee

I am pretty sure this one is a scam. Because I did not leave phone number on craigslist, there is no way this person can call me, lol. I have seen similar emails many times in craigslist. They always said they are out of country, wanted to pay ahead to secure the room. I am pretty sure that they found the school email from Linkedin website to make it looks real.
Hi
My name is Esther I called earlier this morning about your room for rent.
I am PhD student at Nova Southeastern University and am interested in your room for rent against January the 14th, Am currently aboard for the holiday with my family and would be arriving back to on the morning of the 14th.

I am friendly individual, quiet when need be and generally private and highly respectful of other peoples privacy and needs. Am drama free and drug free, have no pets and most importantly God fearing.
I can provide you whatever background check you need. Please let me know if the room is still available, and the best time to call you.
You may reach me via this email or my school email: ao523@nova.edu.

Thank you for posting this! I just received the check today. I knew it was a scam but couldn’t figure out how or what they’d gain from sending me money. My husband and I played along with it and even had a little fun with it. It’s disappointing that I can’t cash this check. I was supposed to send 2,000 of her check to a car agency because she’s getting her own car sent over here. She’s “from Germany”. She’s coming here because her father wanted her to go to college here for her masters. I’ve received other emails too from Guam and New Jersey. New Jersey even made a Facebook with 2 friends and 2 pictures. LOL! But they all had the same exact lines which is crazy! I got mad at Guam and called her out as a scam and asked her what does she gain by it. I wanted to see just how far it goes. But good thing we didn’t cash that check. 🙂 thank you! Scammers beware! No foreigners. It’s always their fathers that are sending money for them although they are grown adults, they are always needing move in ASAP and will always give you direct instructions. She told me that she looks forward to my “immediate” response. And that I must send the money via money gram today. And must complete her instructions today! Lol and she wants to make sure she can trust me?…. I can’t wait to call her out.

I received the same email on craiglist. The person actually just sent me the tracking number for the cheque from fed ex today. I have being exchanging email with scammer for weeks now. I knew it was a scam when their information they sent me couldn’t be found anywhere online. So i have being playing along with this scammer and they even sent me a picture of themselves which i suspect its fake. Too bad its fake.

Good to hear back from you, I’m interested in renting the room. My
name is Lulu Tao Arnold i was born in China (Beijing) i speak both
China & English, am single, fun, loving, clean, loyal and respectful
of others, don’t have any pet. More about me, my father is from US and
my mother is from China. I’m 21yrs old, sex female, i attend berkeley
city college, graduated a year ago.

I’m coming to stay for a year, and am coming for my master’s degree.
I’m currently in Alaska in a village “Nunivak Island” on a research
work and will be coming soon… I’ll be arriving January, I’ll loved
to call you but here is a remote area calls are very hard to go
through, please send me some picture of the room because i will not be
able to come over and check on it before renting.

Please tell me little about yourself…if you are a student?,
working?, married or single?, if there is a garage or parking space
because i will be coming with my own car. Let me know the total amount
for the first month rent, i will be paying upfront so that you can be
rest assured that am really interested in renting the room from you…

My mode of payment is US Check, so please feed me back with the
following details so that i can ensure you are ready to rent the room
to me.

I’ll be waiting to read back from you with the information requested
so that i can forward it to my father to issue out the check for the
deposit and month rent upfront as soon as possible, with that you can
hold on the place prior my arrival… Thanks for your co-operation

Hello.Thank you for the quick response.My name is Lacey Flournoy ,I am 23 yrs old female,am single with no kids,but i love to hang around kids,am fun loving and respectful of others.A non-smoker, don’t do drugs,i drink occasionally,and drama free.I am writing you from from Kegashka, Quebec In Canada.I am coming to your State for my masters in Banking and Finance . I am pretty friendly.I like to cook,and I try to eat healthy.I like to keep things clean in common areas. I can fall asleep fine if someone else is up. I will always communicate when something is up with a bill or anything else serious. I’ve got a lot going on this year, so i won’t be around the apartment all that much.I’d just like a place that I can come home to and chill at the end of the day. I am dedicated to my studies,but i do make time for fun.

I will like to know the total amount of the room per month and the utilities included.Is their a shopping mall around.Are their Universities or Colleges around.I’m a big beach/ocean person and love scuba diving,sea kayaking.. I can’t think of anything to tell you at the moment but I’m more than happy to answer any questions you have,my Dad wants me to move further with my Educational Career..I’m really interested in renting the room from you and I do really love pets but I don’t have any at the moment. I also would have loved to see the room in person but since i am presently not in your state then i wont be able to see until the point of moving in so I will like to inform you that i will be moving in immediately after the payment arrangement has been settled and my dad,he will be responsible for everything so you have nothing to worry about I could have called you to discuss this with you but Kegashka is a remote area, calls hardly go through here.

You will have to get back to me with the required information below for the payment to be made as I don’t want to waste much time i need to secure the place.I will also like you to tell me more about yourself if you have the chance. Do you have kids,are you a student?,worker?,are you married or single?(gotta be fair). I will also like to know if you have a garage or parking space as I will be having my own car get delivered to the house before my coming. I will send your contact to my dad for him to email you later,my dad will be the one responsible for my bills throughout my stay so you have nothing to worry about as you will be getting the rent fee before the due date,Please get back to me with the details below so the payment for the rent and other fee can be sent to you to hold the room.

I’m so glad to hear from you quick, I’m interested in renting the
room. My name is Janet Smith i was born in France (Paris) i speak
both French & English, am single, fun, loving, clean, loyal and
respectful of others, don’t have any pet. More about me, my father is
from US and my mother is from France. I’m 24yrs old, sex female, i
attend American University of Paris, graduated a year ago.

I’m coming to stay for a year, and am coming for my master’s
degree.I’m currently in Alaska in a village “Nunivak Island” on a
research work and will be coming soon.
i’ll loved to call you but here is a remote area calls are very hard
to go through, please send me some picture of the room because i will
not be able to come over and check on it before renting.

Please tell me little about yourself…if you are a
student?,working?, married or single?, if there is a garage or parking
space because i will be coming with my own car. Let me know the total
amount for the first month rent, i will be paying upfront so that you
can be rest assured that am really interested in renting the room from
you…

My mode of payment is US Check, so please feed me back with the
following details so that i can ensure you are ready to rent the room
to me.

I’ll be waiting to read back from you with the information
requested so that i can forward it to my father to issue out the check
for the deposit and month rent upfront as soon as possible, with that
you can hold on the place prior my arrival… Thanks for your
co-operation

I just got one yesterday. The same exact thing you guys are all saying. But at first I thought it was real. I live in a town with a very big college, people come from all over to attend it. So I thought it was real. Until I got the email where she wanted my bank account, routing number and so on. I knew then something was not right. I called the college she was not registered, right then I knew it was a scam. My son came home today and he read the emails immediately he looked her up her email came back as scam right away, shame on these brats who all think we are so stupid

This pretty girl answered my add from guam and told me she going to send me more money for her to ship her car from overseas and for me to take care of the payment with the extra money.Today I received a check for 2840.00 and of course new it was fake. Took it to the bank and of course confirmed it and the check was from a piza company and they confirmed it.
Just becareful out there.

Good to hear back from you, I’m interested in renting the room. My
name is Lulu Tao Arnold i was born in China (Beijing) i speak both
China & English, am single, fun, loving, clean, loyal and respectful
of others, don’t have any pet. More about me, my father is from US and
my mother is from China. I’m 21yrs old, sex female, i attend berkeley
city college, graduated a year ago.

I’m coming to stay for a year, and am coming for my master’s degree.
I’m currently in Alaska in a village “Nunivak Island” on a research
work and will be coming soon… I’ll be arriving January, I’ll loved
to call you but here is a remote area calls are very hard to go
through, please send me some picture of the room because i will not be
able to come over and check on it before renting.

Please tell me little about yourself…if you are a student?,
working?, married or single?, if there is a garage or parking space
because i will be coming with my own car. Let me know the total amount
for the first month rent, i will be paying upfront so that you can be
rest assured that am really interested in renting the room from you…

My mode of payment is US Check, so please feed me back with the
following details so that i can ensure you are ready to rent the room
to me.

I’ll be waiting to read back from you with the information requested
so that i can forward it to my father to issue out the check for the
deposit and month rent upfront as soon as possible, with that you can
hold on the place prior my arrival… Thanks for your co-operation

Thanks for the response, I am okay with the price and explanation of theApt. These are my information below and i will like to have your
information because my boss will be responsible for the payment.
These are my information;
Name: Robin Amanda
Sex :- Female
Age;- 24
Citizenship:- Switzerland
Place of Birth:- Geneva
Current Address: 64405 Le taillan medoc, Geneva. Switzerland
Job Title: Secretary for Hamex construction company
Salary range: 2000-2600 CHF
Work permit: Agent working on it
Profession:- Part time Student and P.A (Personal Assistance)
Religion:- Catholic
Marital Status:- Single
Cleanliness:- Very clean
Hobbies:-Movies, Reading, football, Traveling, camping, cooking.
Nature:- Great sense of humor, calm, easy going and very out
going.
Drinking/Drugs/Smoking:- Social Drinker, don’t do drugs and i do
not smoke.
For the payment, well that is not a problem at all, because My boss will be responsible for all my payment all I have to do is to confirm the amount of the room including the utilities and then get it sent to him including the information of the person which the payment will be issued to. So the necessary information i need from you, so that my boss can issue out the payment to you, Is for you to send me
your:
FULL NAME:
FULL ADDRESS:
ZIP CODE:
CITY:
STATE:
PHONE:
EMAIL:
PRICE:
So that I can forward it to my boss because my boss will be paying for my first month rental fee and my flight fee. So all you have to do is that as soon as you receive the payment he’s going to send to you, You will deduct your first month rental fee and the utilities from it and then get the rest back to my flight manager so that my ticket can be booked and my traveling documents could be completed as well.
Don’t worry about the subsequent payment, because i will be responsible for them once i am in the state. I will be waiting to hear from you. All these information are needed for quick payment asap pls.
Thanks

I listed a room for rent and got two of those: one from France and one from China. How can I verify them?? Will the college tell me if they are enrolled?? I mean, classes started today. Now I really don’t trust anyone.

Thanks so much for your quick reply I’m interested in renting the room. My name is Victoria Whitford i was born in France (Paris) i speak both French & English, am single, fun,loving,clean, loyal and respectful of others, don’t have any pet. More about me, my father is from US and my mother is from France. I’m 26yrs old, sex female, i attend American University of Paris, graduated a year ago.

I’m coming to stay for a year, and am coming for my master’s degree.I’m currently in Guam (Sinajana)” on a research work and will be coming soon…i’ll loved to call you but here is a remote area calls are very hard to go through, please send me some picture of the room if you can because i will not be able to come over and check on it before renting.

Please tell me little about yourself…if you are a student?,working?, married or single?, if there is a garage or parking space because i will be coming with my own car. Let me know the total amount for the first month rent, i will be paying upfront so that you can be rest assured that am really interested in renting the room from you…

I will be paying via a Bank certified check, so please get back to me with the following details so that i can ensure you are ready to rent the room to me. I will sign all necessary papers/Lease at the point of my arrival because there is no printer and scanner close to me.

I’ll be waiting to read back from you with the information requested so that i can forward it to my father to issue out the check for the deposit and month rent upfront as soon as possible, with that you can hold on the place prior my arrival.Thanks for your co-operation.

I got your email and I am so glad to read back from you. I am
pleased to know that the room is still available for rent, I have
checked the advert again and I want you to know that the total move in
cost (Rent/Deposit) is okay with me,could you send me the pictures via
email, as I would like to see the place.Please understand that I’ll
not be able to check out the place not till my arrival and I’d like to
take a decision now.I will like to share a little
about myself.I am 23 Old, I don’t smoke but if my roommate is a smoker
it wouldn’t matter, I just take it as my fate. I drink occasionally,
I’m financially secure, I’m quiet and easy with myself and willing to
share the room chores as a prospective tenant. I’m a Registered
Occupational Therapist and I sell plates, screws, bone graft
substitutes etc for facial fractures and other cases. I also deal with
ENT, Plastics, Neuron, and even Cardiographs surgeons on a daily basis
that need my products for surgeries, and I’ve also worked with nurses
in the United Nations on a project that includes heart related
diseases in
children in the past, So I love what I do. I’m very happy that I got
to view the advert, and I will appreciate only if I’m able to secure
the spot.

How long/short is the lease period? I would love to rent the place
for 3 months or more depending on what you are comfortable with, just
let me know ahead of time. I’ll be busy with work preparing for a
journey to RSA for a seminar but I will like you to get back to me as
soon as you can so that I can make preparations for the deposit fee to
be sent out to you before I leave. I will be arriving once the seminar
is over around by (Feb 1) and have my lease start to run from that
date.

As regards payment for the rent and deposit,my major financier will be
effecting your payment to you as soon as you give me the go ahead to
do so.I believe we can work together and ensure every arrangements
that we shall both execute in line with my taking up the tenancy
should be done accordingly to ensure we have a proper understanding.As
regards the lease agreement,if there is any,i want you to send it to
me for my review,i will eventually have it filled and signed on my
arrival in your place and i will abide by it I will appreciate a quick
response from you so that we can move ahead

Dude, I’ve gotten three of these emails in the last two weeks or so. Thank God I never replied to any of them. Even the first one set of alarm bells in my head because they kept asking for information that was already in the Craigslist ad, which was a pretty clear indication the ad wasn’t read at all and they might be a spam bot. All three said their dads would send me a check, all three were foreign, all three claimed to be university students. The first two were pretty good fakes, but then the third one…. Jesus. This is a direct quote from the email “I’m currently in wikipedia in a village “Hawaii” on a research
work and will be coming soon… I’ll be arriving October”. I posted the roommate ad in January and stated that our lease ends in May. Christ.

Initial e-mail: “– Hello, I come across your AD and i am willing to sublet/roommate your house please let me know the date is going to be available. email me at marycole690@gmail.com Mary”

Follow-up email, subject “Reply Asap”: “Hello,

I got your email and I am so glad to read back from you. I am
pleased to know that the room is still available for rent, I have
checked the advert again and I want you to know that the total move in
cost (Rent/Deposit) is okay with me,could you send me the pictures via
email, as I would like to see the place.Please understand that I’ll
not be able to check out the place not till my arrival and I’d like to
take a decision now.I will like to share a little
about myself.I am 23 Old, I don’t smoke but if my roommate is a smoker
it wouldn’t matter, I just take it as my fate. I drink occasionally,
I’m financially secure, I’m quiet and easy with myself and willing to
share the room chores as a prospective tenant. I’m a Registered
Occupational Therapist and I sell plates, screws, bone graft
substitutes etc for facial fractures and other cases. I also deal with
ENT, Plastics, Neuron, and even Cardiographs surgeons on a daily basis
that need my products for surgeries, and I’ve also worked with nurses
in the United Nations on a project that includes heart related
diseases in
children in the past, So I love what I do. I’m very happy that I got
to view the advert, and I will appreciate only if I’m able to secure
the spot.

How long/short is the lease period? I would love to rent the place
for 3 months or more depending on what you are comfortable with, just
let me know ahead of time. I’ll be busy with work preparing for a
journey to RSA for a seminar but I will like you to get back to me as
soon as you can so that I can make preparations for the deposit fee to
be sent out to you before I leave. I will be arriving once the seminar
is over around by (Feb 5) and have my lease start to run from that
date.

As regards payment for the rent and deposit,my major financier will be
effecting your payment to you as soon as you give me the go ahead to
do so.I believe we can work together and ensure every arrangements
that we shall both execute in line with my taking up the tenancy
should be done accordingly to ensure we have a proper understanding.As
regards the lease agreement,if there is any,i want you to send it to
me for my review,i will eventually have it filled and signed on my
arrival in your place and i will abide by it I will appreciate a quick
response from you so that we can move ahead

Happened to me this week… got a check for over $2000 from some company I’ve never heard of via a sketchy, VERY pushy and phony sounding “foreigner studying on a remote island in Alaska” who claimed to be interested in the room i am selling. I barely gave any information let alone confirmation and they mailed me a check… This is real, be very aware.

I received 2 of these emails today, this was the first one, and the second one from a British lady was rescinded from my email. They both pretty much read the same, I’m not nearby, I’m half American, I’m working on a research project and looking for a place in MD to go to college for my masters, and also my DAD is going to send you the money in full, how much was it and could you give me the following info:… Twice in one day!!!

Thanks so much for the details provided, I’ll forward it to my father
for him to issue out payment on time. I’m so happy that you are
renting the room to me, pls secure the room prior my arrival by taken
the ad down Craiglist, this will give me a strong prove that the room
has been hold prior my arrival so that other interested people will
not make any inquiry. I’ll e-mail by giving you an update about the
status in regards to the payment and also provide the tracking number
from the carrier service delivery the check okay

Regarding my Car…. I’m planning on having it delivered to you before
my arrival so that you can come and pick me up at the airport and
settle in comfortably, you can understand that transiting car is not
easy so i am making arrangement with the car delivery agent to
deliver the car before my arrival.I’ll ask you for a favor here, can i
rely on you accepting the delivery of the car?, as you’ll be handling
the delivery of the car along with the rent fee, the car money will be
included in the check coming to you, once you receive the check you
will help me have the car money send to
the car dealer agent, please let me know if you can do this for me?
and i promise to compensate you adequately for your time and efforts
on my arrival into your place.

Let me know at once if i can trust you to have the car money send to
the car dealer agent once you receive the check. I’ll be expecting
your email as soon as you can. Thanks so much for your
understanding…

Hi,
I’m so glad to hear from you quick, I’m interested in renting the
room. My name is Yetta Martinez i was born in France (Paris) i speak
both French & English, am single, fun, loving, clean, loyal and
respectful of others, don’t have any pet. More about me, my father is
from US and my mother is from France. I’m 24yrs old, sex female, i
attend American University of Paris, graduated a year ago.

I’m coming to stay for a year, and am coming for my master’s
degree.I’m currently in Alaska in a village “Nunivak Island” on a
research work and will be coming soon… I’ll be arriving any time
from Feb 18th or you can email me the available date i can move in
also i’ll loved to call you but here is a remote area calls are very
hard to go th1rough, please send me some picture of the room because i
will not be able to come over and check on it before renting.

Please tell me little about yourself…if you are a
student?,working?, married or single?, if there is a garage or parking
space because i will be coming with my own car. Let me know the total
amount for the first month rent, i will be paying upfront so that you
can be rest assured that am really interested in renting the room from
you…My mode of payment is US Check, so please feed me back with the
following details so that i can ensure you are ready to rent the room
to me.

I’ll be waiting to read back from you with the information
requested so that i can forward it to my father to issue out the check
for the deposit and month rent upfront as soon as possible, with that
you can hold on the place prior my arrival… Thanks for your
co-operation

Thanks for your reply, I would have loved to come check out the room
but I’m currently in Connecticut. I work as a P.A (personal assistant)
to a top executive at Oracle. I just got transferred and that’s why
I’m willing to lease.

The price and location is perfect for me. Below is a little information
about myself and I will like to have your information because my boss
will be responsible for the payment… will love to know if there exist
any Italian restaurant in a nearby

For the payment, well that is not a problem at all, because My boss will be
responsible for all my payment all I have to do is to confirm the amount of
the room including the utilities and then get it sent to him including the
information of the person which the payment will be issued to. So the
necessary information i need from you, so that my boss can issue out
the payment to you, Is for you to send me your:

FULL NAME:
FULL ADDRESS:
ZIPCODE:
PHONE:
PRICE:

So that I can forward it to my boss because my boss will be paying for my
first month rental fee and my flight fee. So all you have to do is that
as soon as you receive the payment he’s going to send to you, You will
deduct your first month rental fee and the utilities from it and then
get the rest back to my flight manager so that my ticket can be booked
and my traveling documents could be completed as well. Don’t worry about
the subsequent payment, because i will be responsible for them once i am
in the state. All these information are needed for quick payment.
Attached are my pictures.
Thanks!! personal email jenniferjonathan03@gmail.com

This happened to me too! I’m a student and I was trying to sublease my place so I could move somewhere else, big college town, figured some students must go on craigslist, ALL I got were strange foreign girls… thought it wasn’t too weird at first because I go to a big university with a good amount of foreign students but they’re exactly the same as all these others. I would say “so glad I found this” but they don’t even pay me, they pay the complex, and the lease gets signed over so it’s all official. Haven’t heard a word from them since telling them that. The email addresses were definitely fake, just random letters attached to an @gmail. They even said “respond to this email” in the initial response, then when I did, their next reply was from a different email! Anyone know where can I turn them in? Absolutely hate awful people like this.

Hello !!
I got your email and I am so glad to read back from you. I am pleased to know that the place is still available for rent. The total move in cost .i.e. rent/security deposit and utilities is great and affordable, could you send the pictures via email as I would like to see the place. Please I want you to understand that I’ll not be able to check out the place not until my arrival, I’d like to take a decision now ‘cos my grandmother is sick; she was diagnosed day before yesterday, she has colorectal cancer, I’m with her at the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and clinics attending to her until her financier assigns a stay in nursing for her, she will be due for surgery on the 28th February.
I’ll like to share a little bit about myself; I’m originally from Missouri, I’m a busy lady that love to work, I’m a pre-nursing major. I will be applying next year for nursing program. I’m single and searching. I am a very studious person; I do like to hang out with friends and I like meeting people, i like hardworking, honest, clean and responsible people; I dislike lazy, untidy and uncaring people. I love pets but I do not have one due to the nature of my busy schedule. I like the outdoors and I’m a good swimmer and sometimes i play tennis. I’m financially secure, time conscious and see myself as a miss independent who pays her bills on time. I’m quiet and easy with myself and willing to share the house chores as a prospective tenant/roommate. I am a great cook and baker (love to do both) during my down time; I like to hangout, watch films/movie, read, enjoy the outdoors and/or go for a run/workout at the gym. Fitness and wellness are essential to me; and I always trying to create healthier habits; I believe this truly summarize what you need to know about me.
​​
I’m currently in Wisconsin to attend to a family emergency, furthermore, I will like to know more about you and the neighborhood is street parking allowed or paid for because I will be coming over with my car. Will there be enough space for my bed-room furniture? I will also like to know if you have vacuum cleaner, laundry machine, dryer and refrigerator. If not can I come with mine?
I would love to rent the place for the time it is available for. I’ll be busy with my travel arrangements but I will like you to get back to me as soon as you can so that I can make preparations for the rent and deposit fee to be sent out to you before my arrival in your place; in order to secure the place before I come.
I believe we can work together and ensure every arrangement that we shall both execute in line with my taking up the tenancy should be done accordingly to ensure we have a proper understanding. As regards the lease agreement, if there is any, I want you to send it to me for my review, i will eventually have it filled and signed on my arrival in your place and i will abide by it. I will appreciate a quick response from you so that we can move ahead as regards sending payment for rent and deposit to you.
Regards​​​​​​
Emalea

I just received 3 phishy texts today, responding to my craigslist ad. All of the texts included a link to Roomster.com. Here are the texts:
Hi I’m Amy. interested to live with a nice & clean person check out my profile and contac me>https://goo.gl/AexeH3
Hi I’m Rebecca. interested in your Room or Roommate, check out my profile here.
Hi, I’m Julia. Interested to live with a nice & clean person. My Full Profile here.

THANK GOD for this website and for you, Mike. I received the same email from “Janet Smith”… sounds French, right?! Thank you for the warning!

I’m so glad to hear from you quick, I’m interested in renting the
room. My name is Janet Smith i was born in France (Paris) i speak
both French & English, am single, fun, loving, clean, loyal and
respectful of others, don’t have any pet. More about me, my father is
from US and my mother is from France. I’m 24yrs old, sex female, i
attend American University of Paris, graduated a year ago.

I’m coming to stay for a year, and am coming for my master’s
degree.I’m currently in Alaska in a village “Nunivak Island” on a
research work and will be coming soon.
i’ll loved to call you but here is a remote area calls are very hard
to go through, please send me some picture of the room because i will
not be able to come over and check on it before renting.

Please tell me little about yourself…if you are a
student?,working?, married or single?, if there is a garage or parking
space because i will be coming with my own car. Let me know the total
amount for the first month rent, i will be paying upfront so that you
can be rest assured that am really interested in renting the room from
you…

My mode of payment is US Check, so please feed me back with the
following details so that i can ensure you are ready to rent the room
to me.

I’ll be waiting to read back from you with the information
requested so that i can forward it to my father to issue out the check
for the deposit and month rent upfront as soon as possible, with that
you can hold on the place prior my arrival… Thanks for your
co-operation

So I googled these phrases just now (copied and pasted from a couple of replies to our ads):

Good to hear back from you, I’m interested in renting the room. My
name is Lulu Tao Arnold i was born in China (Beijing) i speak both
China & English, am single, fun, loving, clean, loyal and respectful
of others, don’t have any pet. More about me, my father is from US and
my mother is from China. I’m 21yrs old, sex female, i attend berkeley
city college, graduated a year ago.

ALSO:

My name is Chloe Cassidy.

ALSO:
Thanks for your response, my name is Mariah Jeanna Milán from Spain. I’m moving to your area soon,I work with EPA here in Spain, I was transfer from Spain to carry out research work with Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) in your state. Here is little about myself,i speak English and Spanish,am single,fun, loving, clean, and respectful of others, don’t drugs/smoke.My father is from US and my Mother is from Spain, am { 26yrs old/F }. I attended American Jesuit University in Spain, where i gain my Medical Doctor (M.D.) a physician’s degree and Masters. I’m coming for short time stay, the lease is for how many months? am ready to sign the lease agreement as soon as i get there. I’ll like to pay for the first month rent fee now… I’ll would like to come and check the room before renting but am very busy here with my preparation, i will love to see 1 or 2 of the room pics and your own pics also. I’ll like you to tell me little about, yourself, Please let me know the total amount for the first month rent and payment will be done in Us dollar certified check..It’s my to me with the cost and i will be glad to update you and make the payment in advance to show you how serious and for you to secure the room for me.

Hi Nathan, I’m happy to hear that your place is still available as ill
be happy to rent the room. Your response provide me with a platform to
be able to decide either I can rent the place or not, where with I’m
happy to keep in touch with you. So I’m writing back to you now in
order to introduce myself and provide you with good understanding of
who I am. I’m from south dakota USA, I’m very quiet and easy going
person to live with, I’m mostly God Fearing and a positive person. I’m
23 & I’m 5″7′,straight, I’m clean & organised, not loud & disruptive,
and respectful of peoples personal property. I enjoy working out &
Diving (Springboard) I’m fun, and enjoy inviting friends to hangout,-
Love yummy foods and tasty wines & watching good shows and good
movies.- I tend to be very quiet and passionate about nature cos I
grew up like an orphan’, while I have an uncle that wouldn’t let me
feel all alone, he’s always been there for me. I do not smoke or do
drugs but i seldom party. I’m mostly shy at first but i’m fun to be
with when I get to know someone.

I’m currently working on a research pertaining to my course work in
culture and tourism, and i hope to end my current assignment by the
end of this month here in South Dakota and focus on my new assignment
to your state. So I will be glad to secure your room down and have a
place to arrive at when I get into the state. More so’ ill appreciate
if you can forward more pictures of the bedroom to me, and let me know
the total move in cost” including the utilities. so I can discuss the
details with my uncle before we proceed. And it will be great if you
can tell me lilt about yourself too. Thanks

These scams have been going around for years. I would like to know if the police actually act on these frauds or are you better off just cutting communications with them when you realize its a scam?
lots of red flags with these things. Even though they are educated many miss spellings and doesn’t quite read right. Offering lots of personal info. without even knowing you.
They always want to send you more money than you are asking and you are supposed to send the extra somewhere else.
Its amazing its more prolific now than ever. If it sounds too good to be true…
George

I asked them to fill out the rental application(which require lots of personal information) + background and financial check($39.95) first. : )

From: lewislaura13@gmail.com
“Hello. My name is Laura Lewis. I really want the room. I was born in France i speak both French & English. I’m coming to stay for a year, and am coming for my master’s degree

I am currently in Agat, Guam on research. I will be back in less than 2 weeks. I wi ll be paying for the room by Check from my dad before my arrival. I am single, fun, loving, clean, loyal and respectful of others, don’t have any pet. My father is from US and my mother is from France. I’m 25yrs old. I attended American University of Paris, graduated 2 year ago.

I would love to call you but here is a remote area. calls are very hard to go through. please send me some picture of the room if you can because i will not be able to come over and check on it before renting. Please tell me little about yourself… Let me know the total amount for the first month rent, i will be paying upfront so that you can be rest assured that am really interested in renting the room from you…

Please get back to me with the following details so that i can ensure you are ready to rent the room to me. I will sign all necessary papers/Lease at the point of my arrival because there is no printer and scanner close to me.

Full Name:
Full address with apt#:
Cell & Home #:
Total amount for move in:

I’ll be waiting to read back from you with the information requested so that i can forward it to my father to issue out the check for the deposit and month rent upfront as soon as possible, with that you can hold on the place prior my arrival.Thanks for your co-operation.”

> Susan CJ wrote:
>
> I just receive your message,i am so happy to read from you regard my
> CL advert .Well a brief introduction about me ,I’m Susan as already
> stated in my posting page ,I was born and raised in New Albany IN, i’m
> 30+ going to clock 31 on April 26th lol, I’m fun loving, friendly,
> clean, caring and respectful of others, a non-smoker, don’t do drugs,
> but i drink occasionally, am single and have no child, I am moving
> there for my master in hospitality and tourism and changing of
> environment I’m really interested in renting from you ,I do not have
> animal but i have no problem with it so if you have one it is not a
> problem, i would have loved to see it but am very far, with pictures i
> Will really appreciate it. I really want you to tell me more about
> yourself and i will like to know if you have a garage or parking
> space cos ill have my own car coming over there, please let me know
> the total payment of the place and all the Utilities of the room cos
> will like to make the payment for the first month/deposit ahead of my
> arrival, payment will be done via US Certified Check from a reputable
> Bank and I am planning to come by 20th of March 2016 The following
> details will be needed so that the payment can be issue out right
> away, i will very glad to read from you with the information to
> facilitate the mailing of the payment.
> Get back to me with your full details I’ll get the check out asap.
>
> Your full Name,Mailing address Include Apt # If Available or PO box
> address,Your phone number as well,Total Amount to move in
>
> I hope to end my current appointments by the end of this week,As soon
> as i arrive and It will be a great pleasure seeing you soon I will
> send photo to you in my next email so you can be sure who you are
> talking to, I think you should let me know little about you too.
>
> Regards.

Thanks so much for your quick reply I’m interested in renting the room. My name is Sophie Hilton i was born in France (Paris) i speak both French & English, am single, fun,loving,clean, loyal and respectful of others, don’t have any pet. More about me, my father is from US and my mother is from France. I’m 27yrs old, sex female, i attend American University of Paris, graduated a year ago.
I’m coming to stay for a year, and am coming for my master’s degree.I’m currently in Guam (Sinajana)” on a research work and will be coming soon…i’ll loved to call you but here is a remote area calls are very hard to go through, please send me some picture of the room if you can because i will not be able to come over and check on it before renting.
Please tell me little about yourself…if you are a student?,working?, married or single?, if there is a garage or parking space because i will be coming with my own car. Let me know the total amount for the first month rent, i will be paying upfront so that you can be rest assured that am really interested in renting the room from you…
I will be paying via a Bank certified check, so please get back to me with the following details so that i can ensure you are ready to rent the room to me. I will sign all necessary papers/Lease at the point of my arrival because there is no printer and scanner close to me.
BELOW IS THE INFORMATION NEEDED

I’ll be waiting to read back from you with the information requested so that i can forward it to my father to issue out the check for the deposit and month rent upfront as soon as possible, with that you can hold on the place prior my arrival.Thanks for your co-operation

YUP, dealing with a scammer right now i guess. The very first e-mail were very skecthy to begin with so I was wary an could not find this person on facebook or anything, so I put their e-mail into google and this article came up not surprised.

How are you doing?. Thanks for your email. I am extremely interested in renting it..I just want you to know little about me. I am 24 years old. I was born in Honolulu in Hawaii.I went to Chaminade University of Honolulu in Hawaii. I’m presently on research work in Ontario, Canada. I am almost done with that because its part of my prerequisite for my internship. I’m real fun person &hard working clean and quite person and easy going and respected My laugh is soft and contagious. I love cooking. My addiction is to taking photographs of people,Places and things has re-surfaced and put into Art work. I love traveling, sporting and enjoy meeting people. I don’t smoke or drink but i do not mind people who do being around me..I don’t have any pets. Am cool headed and easy going person.

My question is:

Is there a parking space?

What color is the interior painted?

Rent is due at which date?

When is it available?

What is the final asking price for the rent?

I will be making payment down before my arrival.. Please, get back to me asap

Also, the second mail goes like:

Hi, Thanks for your email. I love shopping alot.. Is there a Walmart or Walgreen store around you? Also, I will be shipping my BMW car. I hope you can show me places around when i come.

I am extremely interested in renting the place. Well, I will be making a payment for the first month rent or deposit before my arrival so that you can secure it for my ahead of my arrival. I want you to know that i am serious about renting it. My boss will be sending it to you and you will get it this week, paying my rent would not be a burden to me. I will need the following information so that the payment can be sent out to you soon. I will need your

– Your full name as it will appear on the check ,
– Your address to ensure delivery in your hands through regular
mails or a courier service this week,
– Your phone number to keep contact close and avoid package missing in
transit.

Kindly get back to me with this.

Anxiously waiting for your response.

Have a pleasant day.

Ana Morgan
1052 Wanaka St,
Honolulu HI, 96818

NB: Can you please stop talking to other people since i am extremely interested? I don’t mind paying you $100 for taking down the ad so that you can stop talking to them. This can stand as commitment fee

I can smell them a mile away, its not easy soft soaping me with bull shit.
I had an experience with a girl who was in Africa and she sent me a photo of her passport, not to smart. She wanted to pay for a year in advance as long as provided my Pay Pal account..what an idiot.
I notified Pay pal as well as Interpol.
End of story.

Message sent to me from the spammer:
Hello,
How are you doing today? Am a potential renter shopping for a unit to rent and am interested in renting the unit you have placed up for rent on at Texas A&M University, I am 22 years old , female. I am a simple person in all things .Am a good roomie as I do respect other peoples privacy , use to share a condo with my cousin back in my home town I don’t drink smoke nor take to late night parties but I don’t mind living with an occasional smoker or drinker as long as it’s reasonable ..
I will appreciate if you could advise if the listing is still up for rent and email me with details or any question that you may have.
Thanks

2nd message after I replied in excruciating detail 🙁
Hello,

Thanks for the mail and i am Michelle Williamson,22yrs old, female,I do really appreciate your efforts towards this.You sound very nice i am also an easy going person as well. i appreciate your urgent response towards this and the explanation you have made and i will be securing the place from May 23rd to Aug 15th but i will be securing the place before coming over to the state. so plz kindly get back to me with the Final asking price,pics and If there is any application you can send it to me so that i can print it out and have it fill then bring it along when am coming over to the state.i am from United Kingdom,Sheffield City, the only child of my parents,i have a degree in computer science and i will like to get masters,

Also i will like you to get back to me with your full Name, phone numbers and the postal address, because i can get it forward to my dad cos he is responsible for the payment and please let me know the actual amount needed to secure the place,

I got a fishy reply as well, didn’t fall for it because I already knew about these types of scams. It was as mentioned by others, a “female” from overseas looking to rent without even seeing the place first! Really annoying, these scammers are. Wish I could punch them in the balls for trying to rip people off.

Here is a phone number ‘Lizzy Parry’ the German girl used
1707 820-6411
I only take texts from people who I am considering to rent until i meet in person
Then I asked her to email me identification; she stoppped comunicating!

both my roommate and i received the same email from “Chloe Cassidy” on March 29th, 2016

Here is what she said:

I’m glad to hear the room is still available for rent. My name is
Chloe Cassidy,I am 23 yrs old female student,fun loving and respectful
of others.A non-smoker, don’t do drugs,i drink occasionally,and drama
free.I’m from Edmonton Canada I graduated last year in University Of
Alberta I am a very easy going Christian Girl that love going to
Church and attend services , have no children i speak both French and
English ,I am coming to proceed with my masters degree in
micro-biology as my parents wants me to further more with my
Educational Career in the state..I’m really interested in renting the
room from you and i want you to know that i really love pets but I
don’t have any at the moment. I also would have loved to see the room
in person but since i am presently not in the state then i wont be
able to see until the point of moving in so I will like to tell you
that i will be moving in immediately after the payment arrangement has
been settled and my dad will be responsible for everything so you have
nothing to worry about I could have called you to discuss this with
you but this is a remote area and can’t make international calls as
well so you need to get back to me with the your Full Name and Address
and Phone Number for the payment to be made as I don’t want to waste
time to secure the room .I will also like you to tell me more about
yourself if you have the chance will also like to know if you have a
garage or parking space as I will be having my own car get delivered
to the house before my coming so i will send your contact to my dad
for him to email you later and he will be the one responsible for my
bills so you are to get back to me with your Full Name and your Home
Address and your phone number as well for the payment to be made as
soon as possible for you to be able to hold the room for me till i
move in completely. I will be looking forward to your email soon.

BEWARE: Amanda Wyantigbayilas@yahoo.com
“29 YEAR OLD NURSE FROM THE UK NEEDS ROOM” sight unseen…
Wow, so very close to this report. If you google her email addy – you will find same address with other names. Same MO.

OMG!! this article saved my life, I thought the email I got from Ana Morgan was suspicious too so I googled her name and found this site!! the email seemed so genuine I never would have known anything was strange until I realized she was wayyyy to enthusiastic to move into a summer sublet

Haha! Lulu Tao is now looking at apts in Bloomington Indiana, though she is also now busy with her research on Nunavuk Island in Alaska. Amazing how many people looking for apartments sight unseen, are on research trips on Nunavuk Island!

I do believe I have a potential scammer on my hands. Here is the email:

Hello
I have a well furnished apartment for rent which is ideal for students seeking for Admission,couples and pets accepted as long as you ensure the rooms are clean and tidy at all times as i am looking for a wonderful,clean and fun loving flatmate to move in with me. The rooms are available for immediate move in either for short or long term depending on how long you plan to stay

About Me
I am Jesse Anthony a male from united state while my Dad is from Uk and my mum is from the state,. My Hobbies are swimming, reading and traveling. In fact, I have being to Germany,Wales,also recently Scotland,I also like hanging out with friends and associating with people. I used to live here in this apartment with my Family but since my Dad passed away,i have in charge of the apartment and having my masters in Arkansas as i am the only child of my parent and in charge of this apartment so i am presently in Arkansas as i am not around for now and would not be back for sometime and would be back by the end of June . As soon as i have confirmed you as my flatmate for reservation, I will send you the Keys to the apartment by mail

About my apartment
The house is located at 1420 S Figueroa St Los Angeles, CA 90015 .It is a two bedroom apartment and as I live in one room of the apartment, i have one room ready for move in, the rooms are furnished with, dining table with expendable leaves with 4 matching chairs, television with digital receiver, telephone, parquet floors, and there is a window facing north. The apartment is wireless Internet enabled You will have free and unlimited access to all part of the apartment, the Kitchen, the living room and of course except my room and you can also have your own visitors.The rent for the room is $500 Per Month and this includes the utility bills(all included) and you will be required to pay a security deposit of $1000.This security deposit will be refunded to you at the end of your stay in my apartment. I hope it suits you well and if you have any more questions you can surely ask me, I also attached the pictures of my flat and also the tenancy contract agreement so that we can conclude and you can eventually move in.

Thanks so much for the response,my name is Leslie Gelb coming all the way from alaska on a transfer due to the media company i work for expanding its service to other part of the state,so i will be around for more than a year,starting with my research,feasibility studies and recommending a location where we can set up a branch of our company.

About me: I’m a 26yr old female working for a large investment private media company here in Alaska. I graduated in 2011. During the week, I usually wake up/go to bed pretty early because of my job.

I tend to be low key at home on the weekdays after work. During the weekends, I either hang out with friends, explore the city or just stay home to relax and watch TV. I don’t really bring party back home and respect your privacy. I am a very clean person but don’t care how messy your bedroom is but do like to see the common area tidy which i can do always. I like to cook and bake and don’t mind to share with you if you like it, I am fairly flexible. Open to both males/females (as I said I’ve lived with a girl for 3 years and it was a great fit). Only deal breakers are 1, Drugs 2, Loud,email me move in cost,description of the place and pictures if available

Please,i will be waiting to read from you asap,

Regards

Leslie

Hello,
From your description,pictures and the price,i should let you know that the room fit into what i want ,please email me the info in the below order,to make check payable to you,for me to hold the place for myself as i know there are many people looking to move from a house to another since the month is fast approaching a end now.
Your full name:
Mailing Address:
City:
State:
Zip code :
Phone number :

Please,i will be waiting to read from you asap,

Regards

Leslie

How are you doing? i really appreciate the info and i’m okay with the condition of the room,i won’t take any chance in loosing the room.
I will want you to do for me is to please remove the advert from the sites incase you have one as i won’t want to lose it to another person.
The payment will be out to you tomorrow,I have some of my luggage that i will be shipping, stored research profile desktop and Laptop computer and my car (Toyota Camry 2013 Model) the payment will include excess money for the rent and for the movers as soon as you get the payment you will deduct rent fee and keep the balance for the movers so that you will help me give the movers,so as soon as the movers come to deliver my stuffs, at the point of their delivery after you might have deducted the money for the rent.. All i will want you to do for me is to please remove the advert from the sites as i will not want to lose it to another person and will get in touch with you as soon as the payment has been sent to you soon.Kindly check the name and address you gave me if its correct to avoid lost in transit.

Leslie.

(I received the check for 2,860.00 went to the bank to ask if it was a scam, it was fraudulent. I guess I was lucky because waited some days to go to the bank.)

We had a close call of sorts. A student from China who would not agree to be responsible for the rent after he decided to leave, even though the lease specified that everyone was responsible for rent unless they found a new roommate (he wanted his own new and different lease that specifically cleared him of responsibility). He also would not send in co-signer paperwork from his parents, so we would have no way to recover any funds. [of course, consider the legal nightmare even with the correct paperwork to try to recover funds from a family in China]
So we never got as far as exchanging money. But my read flags went up when he started asking for his own deal.

So happy that I looked into this! I wanted to trust this person because it seemed like she just might not speak English well, but I was suspicious of the emails used (sheryyl98@gmail.com and ywgshsfgjsj@gmail.com).

When I did I respond to give information to write a check (to my landlords and not to my self) she just responded asking for the information again.

Here’s the email I got:

Hello,

Thanks for getting back to me, am interested in staying in the room for a Lease period. My name is Jennifer Robert , was born and raised in Lima, Ohio . I speak English and a little Chinese, am single, clean and respectful of others, don’t have any pet but no problem if you
have got pets. My Dad is from Barrow, Alaska and Mom is from Guangzhou, China. I’m 23 year old female,I obtained my bachelor’s degree (Arts and Social Sciences) from the Akron, Ohio.

I would be there for my Master’s Degree in Visual arts education.I’m presently on Shackleford Banks, North Carolina on a research program with the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) but would be coming down soon. I would have love to call you, but here is a remote area calls hardly go through but i receive text messages. please send me some picture of the room because i will not be able to come over and check on it before moving in.

I would love to know more about yourself. If you are a student? worker? married or single? if there is a garage or parking space because i will be coming with my own car. Let me know the total amount for the deposit and first month rent, I will be paying upfront so that you can be rest assured that i really do want to secure the room.

I will be paying you via a Bank certified check, so kindly get back to me with the below details so that i can ensure you are ready to rent the room to me. I would be signing necessary documents/Lease at the point of my arrival because i have got no printer and scanner here with me.

Kindly get back to me with the details requested so that i can get it across to my father to issue out the check for the deposit and month rent upfront asap, with that you can hold on the place prior my arrival.

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LOl cant believe anyone would fall for this and all the scams… I got the same thing sent me 4 $800 money order from Canada post to rent my place called them in and got a approval code cash them They call and said they did not want the rental and keep $800 and send the rest back.. lol Told them to stick it…. 2 month went by and my bank called said they where fraud… I said how I have the Canada post approval on them Canada post had to pay me in full…. for the money orders I fought and won…

I’m so happy to hear this from you..thank you so much and i’m so
grateful… One more thing pls, i will like you to take the add down
CL so that no one will come requesting for the room, moreover is the
room furnish?, and which is the nearest airport to your place?. Here
is a pics of me to know how i looks like and pls do e-mail yours as
well so that i can know what you look like.

I’ll look forward to read back from you as soon as you receive my e-mail. thanks
Amanda

Good to hear back from you, I’m interested in renting the room. My
name is Amanda smith i was born in France (Paris) i speak both
French & English, am single, fun, loving, clean, loyal and respectful
of others, don’t have any pet. More about me, my father is from US and
my mother is from France. I’m 23yrs old, sex female, i attend American
University of Paris, graduated a year ago.

I’m coming to stay for a year, and am coming for my master’s degree.
I’m currently in Alaska in a village “Nunivak Island” on a research
work and will be coming soon… I’ll be arriving this month i’ll loved
to call you but here is a remote area calls are very hard to go
through, please send me some picture of the room because i will not be
able to come over and check on it before renting.

Please tell me little about yourself…if you are a student?,
working?, married or single?, if there is a garage or parking space
because i will be coming with my own car. Let me know the total amount
for the first month rent, i will be paying upfront so that you can be
rest assured that am really interested in renting the room from you…

My mode of payment is US Check, so please feed me back with the
following details so that i can ensure you are ready to rent the room
to me.

I’ll be waiting to read back from you with the information requested
so that i can forward it to my father to issue out the check for the
deposit and month rent upfront as soon as possible, with that you can
hold on the place prior my arrival… Thanks for your co-operation

I got the email this morning and searched online for more information about the person I found this this review here. So, this is the message I got folks. It kind Matches a scam:

Thanks for your response. Here is little about me, my name is Maria
White (female) single 25yrs,i was born in Hamburg(Germany),i speak
both German & English. I’m fun, friendly, clean,
quiet,non-smoker,don’t do drugs and respectful of others. I attended
University of Hamburg graduated last year. My father is from
(U.S.A)and my mother from (Germany)I’m coming to stay for a year, my
main purpose of coming down to USA is for my master’s. I am currently
in Alaska in a village (NunivakIsland) on a research work and will be
coming soon…, I’ll loved to call you but here is a remote area calls
are very hard to go through, kindly understand my situation and please
e-mail me some picture of the room because i will not be able to come
over and check on it before renting.Please tell me little about
yourself…if you are a student?,working?, married or single?, if
there is a garage or parking space because i will be coming with my
own car. Let me know the total amount for the first month rent, i will
be paying upfront so that you can be rest assured that am really
interested in renting the room from you.My mode of payment is US
Check, so please feed me back with the following details so that i can
ensure you are ready to rent the room to me.

Look forward to read back from you with the requested details, so that
i can forward it to my father to issue out the check for the deposit
and month rent upfront as soon as possible, with that you can hold on
the place prior my arrival..

I have an ad on Craigslist, AZ. Here is the reply, I’m sure it’s a scam:

I’m presently in Sanderfer AL .My name is Connie Langager (F),I am 24yrs old,I am fun loving, personal, friendly,clean and respectful of others.A non-smoker, don’t do drugs, i drink occasionally and drama free.I have a death in my family , but i will try to come look it this weekend if not pictures will do for now ,please let me know the total move in cost and date.I’m planning to move in by middle of May but i can pay the deposit to hold the room for myself.I will like to know the total move in cost.I’m planning to pay for the first month rent and deposit because i’m staying for at least one year.I can stay there for few months if its not available for the whole year and look for another place before the end of the lease.I will send you my picture in the next email for you to see whom you are communicating with.You can call me anytime on 213 545 7497,just text me first or just shoot me an email.

Got an email from Craigslist that sounds very similar to all of yours:

“Good morning,
Thank you so much for the interest on me, my name is Mary Avalos
22 years old am looking for a room i could move into by the middle of
next month. i don’t care if you’re a guy or a girl, am just looking
for some cool people who like to have fun to reside with. Am
respectful and will abide by any rules given. i will do my share of
cleaning up. Am ok with pretty much anything, partying, drinking, etc,
but it does not mean i can do everything. I really need a clean and
peaceful space (said space can be a bedroom, a basement room, a
camper/trailer on some land, or anything else creative, so long as
it’s clean). I love to cook for other people. I love to drink wine and
chat. Live music is always a bonus. I’m definitely a conscious,
respectful roommate. I’m interested in meeting people different from
me, so I can learn new ways of being. I do like gardening, although i
do sometimes forget for a week or two at a time (hey, life gets busy).
I’ve just started working, so I’m looking for nice room or room share
clean and i we paying every month. I’m ready to move in as soon as
possible. Because of my precarious situation, I do not have a deposit.
But, I am willing to make payments if necessary. The most important
thing is for me to have a reliable place to live. Email me is the best
way to reach me. So get back to me with below details asap.

Not sure if it’s a scam but will continue to post as things progress. As for now: she sent a few more emails and then sent this:

“Thanks for your honest, My dad have send out the payment and you will
receive check of $3350 after you have the check have it deposit
through mobile deposit on your phone or at your bank, after the check
clear you are to deduct two month rent and deposit and also deduct $50
for your running around then help me have the rest send to shipping
agent who we deliver my car to you.. Okay?”

That seems so similar to the one above but without the $0.90…. scammers have way too much time on their hands. Can’t wait till they get caught…

Hi, Thanks for your email. I love shopping alot.. Is there a Walmart or Walgreen store around you? Also, I will be shipping my BMW car. I hope you can show me places around when i come.

I am extremely interested in renting the place. Please, i want you to know that i will complete all the formalities and fill the paper works physically when i arrive in person. Well, I will be making a payment for the first month rent or deposit before my arrival so that you can secure it for my ahead of my arrival. I want you to know that i am serious about renting it. My boss will be sending it to you and you will get it this week, paying my rent would not be a problem for me. I will need the following information so that the payment can be sent out to you soon. I will need your

– Your full name as it will appear on the check ,
– Your address to ensure delivery in your hands through regular
mails or a courier service this week,
– Your phone number to keep contact close and avoid package missing in
transit.

Kindly get back to me with this.

Anxiously waiting for your response.

Have a pleasant day.

Ana Morgan

NB: Can you please stop talking to other people since i am extremely interested? I don’t mind paying you $100 for taking down the ad so that you can stop talking to them. This can stand as commitment fee

Dealing with a potential scammer myself. A Ha Minh. She reached out to me on roomster.com and asked to touch bases on Facebook. I found her profile, sent a friend request, then nothing for two weeks or so. Finally she reached out and asked a few questions about the property. I answered them, and then with a very similar premise (student, pretty girl, etc.) messaged me saying she was moving very soon, asked for some basic info from me (how much the room & security deposit was, my phone #, and address).

Like some of the other posters on this site, the facebook page seems pretty legit. Lots of photos of her with friends, consistent activity, etc. My spidey senses went off when she messaged me back stating she was arriving in the states so quickly, and so I started googling international student rental scams and found this page.

I’m going to continue contact with her, and see if she asks me to send her any money or does the “overpayment” thing. Obviously I won’t be sending her any money, and I’ve requested a skype meeting with her before moving forward. I like to give people the benefit of the doubt, but this one seems like it’s fitting the bill for the scam this site is detailing. We’ll see how it goes!

Here is my scammer’s message:
Thanks for your quick response. My full name in Lulu Tao Harris, i was
born in Beijing (China), i speak both Chinese&English. Here is little
about me, My father is from U.S.A and my mother from China. I am
female single 21yrs, fun, friendly, clean, quiet, non-smoker, don’t do
drugs and respectful of others. I attended University of Science &
Technology Beijing, graduated last year.

I’m coming to stay for a year, my main purpose of coming down to USA
is for my master’s. I am currently in Alaska in a village “Nunivak
Island” on a research work and will be coming soon… I’ll loved to
call you but here is a remote area calls are very hard to go through,
kindly understand my situation and please e-mail me some picture of
the room because i will not be able to come over and check on it
before renting.

Please tell me little about yourself…if you are a student?,
working?, married or single?, if there is a garage or parking space
because i will be coming with my own car. Let me know the total amount
for the first month rent, i will be paying upfront so that you can be
rest assured that am really interested in renting the room from you.
My mode of payment is US Check, so please feed me back with the
following details so that i can ensure you are ready to rent the room
to me.

Look forward to read back from you with the requested details, so that
i can forward it to my father to issue out the check for the deposit
and month rent upfront as soon as possible, with that you can hold on
the place prior my arrival

Hello,
Thanks for the response to my email,I really do appreciate the breakdown details of the room. I’ll be so glad if you can reserve the room for me as i’ll love to rent the place.I am a humanitarian officer involved in projects that includes orphans, orphanages, heart related diseases in children between the ages of 4­5yrs. I will be staying for a
minimum of 8­-12months.

Am 26 years old from Canada Toronto. I don’t drink nor smoke but i’m cool living with people that do,no pets and no boyfriend because I am a very busy woman.I like honest,responsible,trustworthy and hard working people while I dislike lazy,messy,uncaring people and I love pets so much,am quiet and easy going person to live with..

I’m 5″7′ straight. Religion: Christianity,Marital Status: never been married,Weight: 53 kg 17 lbs I always love to go on date but seldomly party. I swim for fun and sometimes play tennis. I like the job cos we are working in collaboration with the world health organization,hospital,health
centres,medical and other health related institutions,it also involves traveling which is one of my hobbies,I must confess i’m comfortable with the cost of the room and its quite reasonable and affordable . I will like to make the payment for the first month ahead of my arrival, and then i will make subsequent payment thereafter as i plan to stay for more than 8months,’ve told my boss about this and he promised to make sure that he will meet up with the payment so that I can depart from here as scheduled.He also said I will have the advantage to make payment for deposit .I should arrive to US on before the Date 29th of May 2016, so pls keep room for me till my arrival.He also said my mode of payment will be the Most acceptable,easier,safer and reliable means of payment which is United State Certified cashiers check so please let me know if this mode of payment is ok by you. And if YES please provide me with the following information to get the payment to you.Your full name as it
will appear on the payment,your work place address to ensure delivery in your hands through regular mails or a courier service,your phone number on the package to avoid package missing in transit. I will prefer to send to your work address because you will always be available at work from morning till evening but if home address it will be sitting in your mail and no one will be at home to receive the package. And if you don’t receive package at your office address then I guess your home address will be good for the delivery right ? But to avoid any delay of you receiving at home then I guess work address will be fine what do you think ? Kindly get back to me with this requested address contact information bellow so that we can proceed asap,do get back to me with your full information, attach my picture so you can know your future roommate.
(1)YOUR FULL NAME:
(2)YOUR CONTACT ADDRESS: .NOT PO BOX ADDRESS
(3)YOUR PHONE NUMBER#:
(4)Your email address so that my boss can sent the payment to you ok.
Feel free to ask me any question(s) you have okay…
Hope to read from you soon.
Kindest Regards,
I attached my picture so that will know your new roommate i will be happy if you can send your picture to me as
well.
Lisa

This email followed a seemingly reasonable email . . .

Lisa Gara

Hello,
Thanks for getting back to me.I will like to have answers to the following questions below:
1) I will like to know the description of the room, size, and the social apparatus/equipments in there.
2) I will like to have the rent fee per month plus the utilities.
3) Also I will like to know if there is any garage or parking space cause i will have my own car come over.
4) I will also be coming with some of my furniture, that is if it is allowed, like bed, book shelf cause I read alot, shoe rack etc
Am from Canada and I will be having some seminars coming up soon . Right now am working for a NonGovernment Organization on a program on children with orphans and heart related
My next program/seminars will be in Your Neighbourhood and I will need a room to stay for these seminars, so I want to secure a room before my arrival to the states.
I can’t wait to arrive to us cause I’ve heard a lot about the state….Moreso I will be staying for the period of 8 months, Pls do get back to me with the room description, move in rent fees for the first month, Utilities and deposit if included. And if any picture of the room is available, kindly attach it with your reply please.
Hope to read from you. Have a wonderful and productive day.Kindly Hit me Back picture of mine will be attach in the next email

Kindest Regards.

It’s amazing how clever the scammers are. So glad you have this site on the internet.

I am a scammer. Here is what I send out:
Hi,
Sorry for the late response your email went to my spam Folder and , I’m interested in renting the room. My name is Yetta Martinez i was born in France (Paris) i speak both French & English, am single, fun, loving, clean, loyal and respectful of others, don’t have any pet. More about me, my father is from US and my mother is from France. I’m 24yrs old, sex female, i attend American University of Paris, graduated a year ago.

I’m coming to stay for a year, and am coming for my master’s degree.I’m currently in Alaska in a village “Nunivak Island” on a research work and will be coming soon… I’ll be arriving any time from May 31st or you can email me the available date i can move in also i’ll loved to call you but here is a remote area calls are very hard to go through, please send me some picture of the room because i will not be able to come over and check on it before renting.

Please tell me little about yourself…if you are a student?,working?, married or single?, if there is a garage or parking space because i will be coming with my own car. Let me know the total amount for the first month rent, i will be paying upfront so that you can be rest assured that am really interested in renting the room from you…My mode of payment is US Check, so please feed me back with the following details so that i can ensure you are ready to rent the room to me.

I’ll be waiting to read back from you with the information requested so that i can forward it to my father to issue out the check for the deposit and month rent upfront as soon as possible, with that you can hold on the place prior my arrival… Thank you for your time and I look forward to genuine and honest replies/responses. No games, BS, or endless emails

Thanks so much for your quick reply I’m interested in renting the room. My name is Ashley Ann i was born in France (Paris) i speak both French & English, am single, fun,loving,clean, loyal and respectful of others, don’t have any pet. More about me, my father is from US and my mother is from France. I’m 25yrs old, sex female, i attend American University of Paris, graduated a year ago.

I’m coming to stay for a year, and am coming for my master’s degree.I’m currently in Guam (Sinajana)” on a research work and will be coming soon…i’ll loved to call you but here is a remote area calls are very hard to go through, please send me some picture of the room if you can because i will not be able to come over and check on it before renting.

Please tell me little about yourself…if you are a student?,working?, married or single?, if there is a garage or parking space because i will be coming with my own car. Let me know the total amount for the first month rent, i will be paying upfront so that you can be rest assured that am really interested in renting the room from you…

I will be paying via a Bank certified check, so please get back to me with the following details so that i can ensure you are ready to rent the room to me. I will sign all necessary papers/Lease at the point of my arrival because there is no printer and scanner close to me.

I’ll be waiting to read back from you with the information requested so that i can forward it to my father to issue out the check for the deposit and month rent upfront as soon as possible, with that you can hold on the place prior my arrival. Thanks for your co-operation.

Holly s**t. This Ana Morgan makes me laugh. Thank you all for posting this info. I can’t begin to imagine the amount of trouble this has saved me. I am more eternally grateful to Ana for her/his lack of imagination and originality. All I did is check for this person online before moving forward with a third email (Ctrl + F for “Ana” above to see the exact wording I got in my first to emails) and this site was the first source that popped up (google get a thumbs up from me here). After reading through the information here I’m convinced that “Ana” is so lazy that they are likely just copy/pasting directly from this site.

to me
Thanks so much for your quick reply I’m interested in renting the room. My name is Ashley Ann i was born in France (Paris) i speak both French & English, am single, fun,loving,clean, loyal and respectful of others, don’t have any pet. More about me, my father is from US and my mother is from France. I’m 25yrs old, sex female, i attend American University of Paris, graduated a year ago.

I’m coming to stay for a year, and am coming for my master’s degree.I’m currently in Guam (Sinajana)” on a research work and will be coming soon…i’ll loved to call you but here is a remote area calls are very hard to go through, please send me some picture of the room if you can because i will not be able to come over and check on it before renting.

Please tell me little about yourself…if you are a student?,working?, married or single?, if there is a garage or parking space because i will be coming with my own car. Let me know the total amount for the first month rent, i will be paying upfront so that you can be rest assured that am really interested in renting the room from you…

I will be paying via a Bank certified check, so please get back to me with the following details so that i can ensure you are ready to rent the room to me. I will sign all necessary papers/Lease at the point of my arrival because there is no printer and scanner close to me.

I’ll be waiting to read back from you with the information requested so that i can forward it to my father to issue out the check for the deposit and month rent upfront as soon as possible, with that you can hold on the place prior my arrival.Thanks for your co-operation.

Thanks for the mail and i am Michelle Williamson,22yrs old, female,I do really appreciate your efforts towards this.You sound very nice i am also an easy going person as well.i appreciate your urgent response towards this and the explanation you have made and pls kindly let me know the exact date to move in but i will be securing the place before coming over to the state. so plz kindly get back to me with the Final asking price,pics and If there is any application you can send it to me so that i can print it out and have it fill then bring it along when am coming over to the state.i am from Sheffield City and the only child of my parents and coming on a research program on Anthropologist in the state,

Also i will like you to get back to me with your full Name, phone numbers and the postal address, because i can get it forward to my dad cos he is responsible for the payment and please let me know the actual amount needed to secure the place,

Thanks a ton….I’m literally holding the check right now for $2450.00 for a room that is $500/month, never met the guy, just talked to him via email and text, and after I received the check I called the number, No answer and then he texted me and called from a private number.

Beware of: (This is response that I got from scammer)

Thanks for the response, I am okay with the price and explanations,is there any Chinese restaurant close? These are my information below and i will like to have your information because my boss will be responsible for the payment. These are my information;

For the payment, well that is not a problem at all, because My boss
will be responsible for all my payment all I have to do is to confirm
the amount of the room including the utilities and then get it sent to
him including the information of the person which the payment will be
issued to. So the necessary information i need from you, so that my
boss can issue out the payment to you, Is for you to send me
your:
FULL NAME:
FULL ADDRESS:
ZIP CODE:
CITY:
STATE:
PHONE:
EMAIL:
PRICE:

So that I can forward it to my boss because my boss will be responsible for my first month rental fee and my flight fee. So all you have to do is that as soon as you receive the payment he’s going to send to you, You will deduct the first month rent fee plus utilities and get the rest sent to my flight manager so that my ticket can be booked and my traveling documents could be completed as well.
Don’t worry about the subsequent payment, because i will be responsible for them once i am in the state. I will be waiting to hear from you. All these information are needed for quick payment as soon as possible please. i will move in as soon as everything get settled.

Should I mail check back, shred, or just hang on to the check? Thanks again for posting this, it really helped.

Thank goodness I read this website before giving out any information. This is the email I received that I realized was sketchy

mailto:sammyzenat@gmail.com

I so much appreciate your quick response and i will love to know if there exist any Chinese’s restaurant in a nearby,
Name: Alexis Mathew
Sex :- female
Age;- 23
Citizenship:- Israelite
Profession:-P.A
Religion:- Christian
Marital Status:-complicated
Cleanliness:- Very clean
Hobbies:-Movies,Reading,
Soccer,Traveling.
Nature:-Great sense of humor,easy going and very out going.
Drinking/Drugs/Smoking:-Social Drinker,don’t do drugs nor smoke.For the payment that is not a problem at all. My boss will be responsible for all my payment all I have to do is to confirm the amount of the room including the utilities and then get it sent to him including the information of the person which the payment will be issued to. So all I require of you is for you to send me your:

FULL NAME:
FULL ADDRESS:
CITY:
STATE:
ZIP CODE:
PHONE:
EMAIL:
PRICE :

So that I can forward it to my boss because my boss will be paying for the rent,my flight and some other things so all you have to do is that as soon as you receive the check he will send. You will deduct your rent fee and the utilities from it and then get the rest back to my flight manager so that my ticket can be booked. awaiting your quick response

I responded to this email; however when I looked up the address this house had just been sold the prior week, even though ad said they have owned it for many years, & are now wanting to lease it out. I spoke directly with the Real Estate firm that sold the house, & they confirmed the lies about ownership.

I looked them up when I replied with questions and got the same basic email in response, only with worse English grammar. Then the person said he is never available bc he works 6 days a week in a coal mine in OK, so there is no cell service. Are you laughing yet?

He also claimed to be a Christian Reverend doing missionary work in New Hampshire for youth – problem there is that I am involved with the same group. There is nothing Christian about this scammer.

Here is original response to my questions -comments in [ ] are mine:

Jose Lovos
AttachmentsMay 16

to LadyMC
Good Morning.

Thanks for your response and willingness. My house is still available for rent, to tell you about myself too; I’m easy going and friendly, I respect every religion, I love to hang around with good people, definitely not a trouble maker and very helpful in nature. I am presently in Rhode Island with my wife, as Coordinators for Youth with a Mission (Y.W.A.M). [lying in the name of God!!!] It’s an international Christian foundation. We will be here for a very long time and this is why we have made up our mind to put our place up for rent. [confirmed that this house was sold on May 10, 2016 to a different family – I confirmed this with the real estate agency that sold it!]

Actually we had the intention of selling off the property but giving it a second thought we decided to rent it out and handle this ourselves due to our past experience. [Lies; property was already sold!]

The rent is $750 a month, refundable deposit $750, pets allowed but must be well trained, no pets deposit or rent for now but could change later and we are looking for 1 year lease or more if possible. Also find the attached images for you to have a feel of how the inside looks.

I responded to this email; however when I looked up the address this house had just been sold the prior week, even though ad said they have owned it for many years, & are now wanting to lease it out. I spoke directly with the Real Estate firm that sold the house, & they confirmed the lies about ownership.

I looked them up when I replied with questions and got the same basic email in response, only with worse English grammar. Then the person said he is never available bc he works 6 days a week in a coal mine in OK, so there is no cell service. Are you laughing yet?

He also claimed to be a Christian Reverend doing missionary work in Rhode Island for youth – problem there is that I AM involved with the same group. There is nothing Christian about this scammer.

Here is original response to my questions -comments in [ ] are mine:

Jose Lovos
AttachmentsMay 16

to LadyMC
Good Morning.

Thanks for your response and willingness. My house is still available for rent, to tell you about myself too; I’m easy going and friendly, I respect every religion, I love to hang around with good people, definitely not a trouble maker and very helpful in nature. I am presently in Rhode Island with my wife, as Coordinators for Youth with a Mission (Y.W.A.M). [lying in the name of God!!!] It’s an international Christian foundation. We will be here for a very long time and this is why we have made up our mind to put our place up for rent. [confirmed that this house was sold on May 10, 2016 to a different family – I confirmed this with the real estate agency that sold it!]

Actually we had the intention of selling off the property but giving it a second thought we decided to rent it out and handle this ourselves due to our past experience. [Lies; property was already sold!]

The rent is $750 a month, refundable deposit $750, pets allowed but must be well trained, no pets deposit or rent for now but could change later and we are looking for 1 year lease or more if possible. Also find the attached images for you to have a feel of how the inside looks.

Word to the wise: Look up the property online; look up the people; and check scammer sites like this one. It’s so easy nowadays. AND NEVER NEVER EVER SEND MONEY ANYWHERE OR PAY ANYONE WITHOUT SEEING THEIR ID, PROOF OF RIGHT TO RENT, AND THEN DOING YOUR OWN RESEARCH AND DUE DILIGENCE.

Hello,i am so much happy to read back from you,i will like to rent the room for 6 months or a year. My name is Jace Berry, was born and raised in Allentown, Pennsylvania . I speak English and a little French, am single, clean and respectful of others, don’t have any pet but no problem if you have got pets. My Dad is from Seaford, Delaware and Mom is from Shanghai, China. I’m 25 years old female, I attended Cedar Crest College, Pennsylvania and graduated last year.

I would be there for my Master Degree in Environmental Science. I’m presently on Chester County, Pennsylvania on a research program but would be coming down soon. I would have love to call you, but here is a bad reception, calls hardly go through but i receive text messages,.I would love to know more about yourself. if there is a garage or parking space because i will be coming with my own car. Let me know the total amount for the deposit and first month rent, I will be paying upfront so that you can be rest assured that i really do want to secure the room.

I will be paying you via a Bank certified check, so kindly get back to me with the below details so that i can ensure you are ready to rent the room to me. I would be signing necessary documents/Lease at the point of my arrival because i have got no printer and scanner here with me.

Kindly get back to me with the details requested so that i can get it across to my father to issue out the check for the deposit and month rent upfront asap, with that you can hold on the place prior my arrival.

Thanks for your co-operation.

Jace Berry
_____

jace berry
to me

Hello, am happy you are selling to me. I got your details and have forwarded it to my secretary, payment has been issued out to you and sent to you via USPS it will deliver to you this week, I will email you with the tracking number for confirmation as soon as I am provided with it. I will also like to let you know that the shipping funds were included with your payment due to i might not be around when the payment arrives to you because am going to TEXAS for my honeymoon once the payment arrives. You will go ahead and have the check cash or deposited into your account and once it clears then you deduct the money for your item with additional $50 for holding it for me, then you will have the rest of the money send to my shipper which i will get back to you with information for that later. then I will contact my shipper to get ready to come over for pick up immediately. LET ME KNOW IF I CAN TRUST YOU in this transaction.

Note : You are not responsible for shipping as soon as you have the check and have it cashed my shipper will be coming over for pick up.

Hope to hear back from you soon and what’s your agreed price?

Thanks for your understanding.

Jace
—–
Hi
Thanks for your quick response, I’m interested in renting the room.
My name is Jiao-Jie Park i was born in China (hangzhou) i speak both
English & Chinese , am single, fun, loving, clean, loyal and
respectful of others, don’t have any pet. More about me, my father is
from US and my mother is from China my dad came across my mother in
China Lol. I’m 24yrs old, sex female, i attend hangzhou University of
China, graduated a year ago.

I’m coming to stay for a year, my main purpose of coming down to USA
is for my master’s. I’m currently in Alaska in a village “Nunivak
Island” on a research work. I will be back in less than 2 weeks. I
will be paying for the room by Check from my dad before my
arrival…I will be arriving by this month June 27th or you can email
me back the available date i can move in, I’ll loved to call you but
here is a remote area calls are very hard to go through, kindly
understand my situation and please e-mail me some picture of the room
because i will not be able to come over and check on it before
renting.

Please tell me little about yourself…if you are a
student?,working?,married or single?, if there is a garage or parking
space because i will be coming with my own car. Let me know the total
amount for the first month rent, i will be paying upfront so that you
can be rest assured that am really interested in renting the room from
you.My mode of payment is US Cashier Check , so please feed me back
with the following details so that i can ensure you are ready to rent
the room to me.

Look forward to read back from you with the requested details, so that
i can forward it to my father to issue out the Cashier check from his
personal account for the deposit and month rent upfront as soon as
possible, with that you can hold on the place prior my arrival..Thank
you for your time and I look forward to genuine and honest
replies/responses. No games, or endless emails.

I got in touch with someone for a place to stay in Culver City and it was really sketchy in that she only want to correspond via Roomster. I had my red flags going off because she didn’t seem to reference my email where I went into depth about myself… when I looked up Roomster I spotted a scammed. Emailed her in return to stay the hell away from innocent, young students who were serious tenants of the area.

anamorgan6025@gmail.com is still active. I received the exact same emails that are posted on here. Luckily o kept directing them to the leasing office phone number everytime they tried to get an address out of me. Once I discovered the spam, I told them to not send any money or contact me again. Be careful, I was responding because we are desperate to get out of our lease. Don’t let desperation cloud your judgment!

Thank you for the email and interest in my sublet unit. Some intro
about me – My name is Janet, female and I am a travel nurse who is looking to
rent out my apartment for 3 to 6 months (from now until the end of
December) I received an emergency offer to work for the Bassett
Army Community Hospital, Fort Wainwright in Alaska. I am also open to
a short term sublease between 1 to 2 months as I’m keen to sort out my
apartment situation as soon as possible.

I will like to confirm the dates you need the place for to be sure to
accommodate you or if I’ll have to find another renter to occupy the
place for the remaining term in-between afterwards.

I welcome any questions you may have and happy to provide you pictures
of the place as well as additional information.

Hello. My name is Maria Craciun. I really want the room. I was born in Romania. I’m coming to stay for a year, and am coming for my master’s degree

I am currently in Agat, Guam on research. I wi ll be paying for the room by Check from my dad before my arrival. I am single, fun, loving, clean, loyal and respectful of others, don’t have any pet. My father is from US and my mother is from Romania. I’m 29yrs old. I attended University of Pennsylvania and graduated last year.

I would love to call you but here is a remote area. calls are very hard to go through. please send me some picture of the room if you can because i will not be able to come over and check on it before renting. Please tell me little about yourself… Let me know the total amount for the first month rent, i will be paying upfront so that you can be rest assured that am really interested in renting the room from you…

Please get back to me with the following details so that i can ensure you are ready to rent the room to me. I will sign all necessary papers/Lease at the point of my arrival because there is no printer and scanner close to me.

Full Name:

Full address with apt#:

Cell & Home #:

Total amount for move in:

I’ll be waiting to read back from you with the information requested so that i can forward it to my father to issue out the check for the deposit and month rent upfront as soon as possible, with that you can hold on the place prior my arrival.Thanks for your co-operation.

Hello. My name is Maria Craciun. I really want the room. I was born in Romania. I’m coming to stay for a year, and am coming for my master’s degree

I am currently in Agat, Guam on research. I wi ll be paying for the room by Check from my dad before my arrival. I am single, fun, loving, clean, loyal and respectful of others, don’t have any pet. My father is from US and my mother is from Romania. I’m 29yrs old. I attended University of Pennsylvania and graduated last year.

I would love to call you but here is a remote area. calls are very hard to go through. please send me some picture of the room if you can because i will not be able to come over and check on it before renting. Please tell me little about yourself… Let me know the total amount for the first month rent, i will be paying upfront so that you can be rest assured that am really interested in renting the room from you…

Please get back to me with the following details so that i can ensure you are ready to rent the room to me. I will sign all necessary papers/Lease at the point of my arrival because there is no printer and scanner close to me.

Full Name:

Full address with apt#:

Cell & Home #:

Total amount for move in:

I’ll be waiting to read back from you with the information requested so that i can forward it to my father to issue out the check for the deposit and month rent upfront as soon as possible, with that you can hold on the place prior my arrival.Thanks for your co-operation.

I put an add on Craigslist because my Dog and I need a clean place near my job in Ann Arbor but some guy named Ryan Martins emailed me about his house but he’s in Niagara Falls NY and I can’t view the house. LSS, this house is a rental property and when I responded saying I would need all legit papers showing its not a scam, he never replied. It pisses me off because me and my little buddy need a place!

minha1h@hotmail.com
this is the recent email address through which I was almost victim to a scam
1(757)250-7983 is also a phone number they texted me from..supposedly an LVN from Viet Nam coming here to work. It was almost exactly as described above. I received a check for more than the amount and they wanted me to deposit it and wire the money. Not sure if I should return the check or just rip it up!

SO, I was looking for used car to get me around. When I see ad on Craiglist about Honda 2009. In my mind the price was a steal. (First eyebrow raise).
Now, on the ad, it provides a legit number, email address. So in my mind I was thinking everything was ok. So i called the number by the way is 7603496045. When I called no one answer and literally two second later I received this text message.I’m Jenna, thank you for contacting me regarding my 2009 Honda Accord EXL. For more information please give me your email address or contact me at Jenna41Collins@gmail.com or Jenna41Collins@mail.com
So I did, however in the providing my email. I thought it was weird that I didn’t receive a email for a couple of hours.SO i email without my name that i was interested in car however anymore business to call me to make sure this is not a scam. While I was watching “Mr. Robot” the show. I jumped up and put in the email address. That when it said this email was a scam. So I checked my email and that when I notice and email was sent to me. However, by then I google the email address to see it was fraud. I didn’t open the email. Went back to craiglist to the ad- and it had been flagged.

This was really useful I was so close to sending 1400 after receiving a 3000 check thankfully I read this page how they had me going was they claimed to be an attractive woman even sending pictures of someone else

wow I never knew or heard about roommate scams until I got an email that seemed kind of off and when I asked her to call me she never would. I typed in her name to see if I could see who she is and this site popped up. The email I got was from a GRACE GARBER she sent a pic but she never answered my questions or called so I’m having fun I sent an email back with the address 666 shady lane.. haha. and I said I think you are trying to scam me and if I was wrong to prove it. I haven’t heard back.

Thank you!! Thank you for this article!! Here was my experience: Be careful guys!

After post my roommate ad I received this email:

I am a 21 year old recent college graduate.. Looking for a room or private space I can make my own. I am single, drama free, with no pets. I dont smoke or use any drugs, but I do like to drink occasionally.
As for schedules, I usually work 40 hours a week. My work week runs from Wednesday-Sunday. I am very respectful of peoples schedules, dont stay up very late being loud, or make much of a fuss getting ready in the morning. I am a very easygoing person. If you feel like I might be a fit in your household. Please E-mail me at jordanpkim@gmail.com
Thank you!

Seemed legit enough so I replyed (several days later):
Hello Jordan,
First of all thank you for your interest! My apologies for the delayed response. Are you still in search of a room? We still have one available. I would love to set up an viewing/interview at your convenience. Please let me know when works best for you and if you have any questions for me! Please feel free to text or call me at *******for a quicker response. Lovely to meet you. I look forward to your reply!
Our best,
James and Brittany

Their response two minutes later:

Thanks for your quick response. My full name in Lulu Tao Ashley, i was
born in Beijing (China), i speak both Chinese&English . Here is little
about me, My father is from U.S.A and my mother from China. I am
female single 21yrs, fun, friendly, clean, quiet, non-smoker, don’t do
drugs and respectful of others. I attended University of Science &
Technology Beijing, graduated last year.

I’m coming to stay for a year, my main purpose of coming down to USA
is for my master’s. I am currently in Alaska in a village “Nunivak
Island” on a research work and will be coming soon… I’ll loved to
call you but here is a remote area calls are very hard to go through,
kindly understand my situation and please e-mail me some picture of
the room because i will not be able to come over and check on it
before renting.

Please tell me little about yourself…if you are a student?,
working?, married or single?, if there is a garage or parking space
because i will be coming with my own car. Let me know the total amount
for the first month rent, i will be paying upfront so that you can be
rest assured that am really interested in renting the room from you.
My mode of payment is US Check, so please feed me back with the
following details so that i can ensure you are ready to rent the room
to me.

Look forward to read back from you with the requested details, so that
i can forward it to my father to issue out the check for the deposit
and month rent upfront as soon as possible, with that you can hold on
the place prior my arrival..
Lulu Tao

My response:
Lulu,
I am sorry to inform you that an in-person viewing and interview is Necessary! Good luck with your home search. Thanks and have a great day.

I caught on to a scam last month (June 19, 2016). I got suspicious when the “looking for a room” person offered to mail a check for more than I was asking for. I did some research and thanks mostly to this site, I confirmed it was a scam.

The emails I received were very similar to the Apr. 18 post seen here. “From Alaska,” “deal breakers are 1. drugs, 2. loud.” Also, “cook and bake and don’t mind sharing with.”

Her name is supposedly “Patty Rivera.” I did receive the check; still have it. The name on the check is “Christina Hall.” Beware of this email: mb8investnents@gmail.com

Well Ashley is a busy girl… She seems to get around. She approached me as Ashley Comic here is her letter to me literally a second after I responded to her text:

Hi,
I’m so glad to hear from you quick, I’m interested in renting the
room. My name is Ashley Comic i was born in France (Paris) i speak
both French & English, am single, fun, loving, clean, loyal and
respectful of others, don’t have any pet. More about me, my father is
from US and my mother is from France. I’m 24yrs old, sex female, i
attend American University of Paris, graduated a year ago.

I’m coming to stay for a year, and am coming for my master’s
degree.I’m currently in Alaska in a village “Nunivak Island” on a
research work and will be coming soon… I’ll be arriving any time
from JULY or you can email me the available date i can move in also
i’ll loved to call you but here is a remote area calls are very hard
to go through, please send me some picture of the room because i will
not be able to come over and check on it before renting.

Please tell me little about yourself…if you are a
student?,working?, married or single?, if there is a garage or parking
space because i will be coming with my own car. Let me know the total
amount for the first month rent, i will be paying upfront so that you
can be rest assured that am really interested in renting the room from
you…My mode of payment is US Check, so please feed me back with the
following details so that i can ensure you are ready to rent the room
to me.

I’ll be waiting to read back from you with the information
requested so that i can forward it to my father to issue out the check
for the deposit and month rent upfront as soon as possible, with that
you can hold on the place prior my arrival… Thanks for your
co-operation

Regard

I am so glad I found this sight. I knew right away this was sketchy and I’ glad to know my instincts were correct.

Thank you so much for the info because I just started going through this. I googled roommate scam and immediately saw your article. I knew something wasn’t quite right after getting a reply from female who said she lived in Australia and was sending check. She couldn’t answer when she would be in the states. Your story is exactly what she was trying to do. She wanted to know how much it was to secure the room and was having her employer send it. Thanks again!

Well..
thanx for posting your story as it now has easily rested my mind & gut instincts.
I placed an ad on CL for one of my rooms for rent & I rcvd about 7 answers from girls…from some other country who yet again…were in another “remote” area of some other country…that they…couldnt make phone call…(uh…wait a minute…they can talk to people in space…yet you cant talk from Alaska or Guam?) they were coming to get MBA-would be a yr-would be sending auto-dad wpuld be sending cashiers check for sec dep, rent, car transport…& I WOULD be responsible for cashing said check & accepting delivery of vehicle after paying them…as well as picking person up from airport.(we all know that no business will send a vehicle anywhere w/o being paid 1st)
I stated in my ad that I was 61…yet person asked if I was student as well, like them…Several times that was mentioned…and I started telling them their lack of communication & comprehension were BIG RED FLAGS & to no longer respond to me. Yet still they did…My reply was to not send check or vehicle…& I didnt hear anything for 2 days.Went home ysdy & UPS envelope sitting there @ my front door. I sent back immed w/o opening to original sender as well as UPS placed call to that sender bc was next day service & thought wz important for sender to know.
So as of right now…I tried to stop corrospondance but they mustve figured they had gullible person…& pursued scam. Thats how I came on web looking for similiar scams. And I found this. Will be home from work soon & try to paste corrospondance so you can see actual red flag signs. Alotta mispelling & repetitve requests. thanks for your time & will be back to post soon.

I got hit by this scam and took my room share ad off Craigslist when it happened. However, I never cashed the check.

Now, I always respond enough to keep them going, so (hopefully) they send a check. The cost of Fed Ex/UPS sets them back $10 (or more) and they are spending time they could be spending scamming people.
I want to do my part to make their business unprofitable by getting them to put out the time and money on the scam.

If I get a tracking number I’m planning to report to UPS/Fed Ex fraud detection unit.

This is what I received from Audrey Cooper
I apologize for the delay in response i have been busy very busy with , I’m 29 years old, Physicist, i work as a Research analyst in a Federal research facility. My boyfriend and I just broke up and I’m looking for a fresh start, somewhere I can work on me and do my Job. I’m planning to rent for 1 year and 6 months. I am not a big party girl, and always like to leave a place better than I found it. As for my background, I have no criminal history. I’m originally from Plattsburgh, NY.. I went to Utica College for by bachelor’s degree and then attended Strathclyde University where I got my masters in Physics. I have worked for two other Petrochemical Chemicals Company in the state and now i work as a Research Analyst in a Federal Research facility in Newport county, RI. so I’m practically moving to the apartment from Rhode Island, I have good credit, references and no criminal record.

I’m very interested in the place however I also have few things of my own I wouldn’t need everything so my furniture won’t be a problem as i will be moving the ones that are not needed into my movers storage unit, i have dresser, queen size bed, brand new mattress, standing mirror, desk, side bed lamps, chandelier, cooking utensils, dryer, i ​​have my Car, some Interior decorations ( Persian Rug, Paintings, Sculptor and other Art stuff).. I wouldn’t mind checking out what’s there as there are some things I’m losing to my ex. Although i have lived on m​​y own for many years now and already have much of what I need. Ideally I would like to move in as soon as possible but I’m ready to hold the place prior to my ​arrival​ I would be able to give you the down payment right away, my exact move in date is July 30th but then I’m ready to make the first month rent fee to hold the place.

Having said that, I would love for us to meet somewhere first to discuss the whole rental process in real time but the nature of my job and work schedule won’t permit me and besides i can’t travel from Rhode Island just to see the place considering the distance but i’m guessing it’s a place and in a perfect neighborhood though. Frankly what my soul needs right now is a quiet and drama free environment. My first month rent fee will be in form of Certified Check let me know if you’re okay with the payment mode so i can take necessary measure with my Supervisor to issue the check to you, so you will get the payment before the end of next week if you provide the your name and address for the Check it will be be cut and mail out to you via USPS priority mail delivery service and you will get it in couple of days.

I got the same email I didn’t understand the certified check… !they want my address …

Hi,

I’m 28 years old, Physicist, i work as a Research analyst in a Federal research facility. My boyfriend and I just broke up and I’m looking for a fresh start, somewhere I can work on me and do my Job. I’m planning to rent for 1 year and 6 months. I am not a big party girl, and always like to leave a place better than I found it. As for my background, I have no criminal history. I’m originally from Plattsburgh, NY.. I went to Utica College for by bachelor’s degree and then attended Strathclyde University where I got my masters in Physics. I have worked for two other Petrochemical Chemicals Company in the state and now i work as a Research Analyst in a Federal Research facility in Newport county, RI. so I’m practically moving to the apartment from Rhode Island, I have good credit, references and no criminal record.

I’m very interested in the place however I also have few things of my own I wouldn’t need everything so my furniture won’t be a problem as i will be moving the ones that are not needed into my movers storage unit, i have dresser, queen size bed, brand new mattress, standing mirror, desk, side bed lamps, chandelier, cooking utensils, dryer, i ​​have my Car, some Interior decorations ( Persian Rug, Paintings, Sculptor and other Art stuff).. I wouldn’t mind checking out what’s there as there are some things I’m losing to my ex. Although i have lived on m​​y own for many years now and already have much of what I need.

Ideally I would like to move in as soon as possible but I’m ready to hold the place prior to my ​arrival​ I would be able to give you the down payment right away, my exact move in date is Feb 5th but then I’m ready to make the first month rent fee to hold the place. Having said that, I would love for us to meet somewhere first to discuss the whole rental process in real time but the nature of my job and work schedule won’t permit me and besides i can’t travel from Rhode Island just to see the place considering the distance but i’m guessing it’s a place and in a perfect neighborhood though. Frankly what my soul needs right now is a quiet and drama free environment. My first month rent fee will be in form of Certified Check let me know if you’re okay with the payment mode so i can take necessary measure with my supervisor to issue the payment to you, so you will get the payment before the end of next week if you provide the your name and address for the Check it will be be cut to you without further delay.

My pictures will be included in my next email.​​ Thanks!
Tanesha Thurman

You have received the following message regarding your property listing at 1********t Road on the Off Campus Connection website.

I saw your rental listing and i will be coming from United Kingdom for a research program at the University of Rochester and i wanted to see if it’s still available. If so, could you let me know what the monthly rent is? Also, here are some other questions I had: Will the unit be furnished? What is the neighborhood like? On average, how much do the utilities cost? When will the unit be available? Can I sign a year lease Or Months To Months? Do you require a deposit? I look forward to hearing from you and you can email me at…. michellewilliamson1999@gmail.com Thanks

To respond to this message do not respond to this email. Instead use the contact information the sender provided below.

Thanks for the mail and i am Michelle Williamson,22yrs old, female,I do really appreciate your efforts towards this.You sound very nice i am also an easy going person as well.i appreciate your urgent response towards this and the explanation you have made and pls kindly let me know the exact date to move in but i will be securing the place before coming over to the state. so plz kindly get back to me with the Final asking price,pics and If there is any application you can send it to me so that i can print it out and have it fill then bring it along when am coming over to the state.i am from Sheffield City and the only child of my parents and coming on a research program on Anthropologist in the state,

Also i will like you to get back to me with your full Name, phone numbers and the postal address, because i can get it forward to my dad cos he is responsible for the payment and please let me know the actual amount needed to secure the place,

“Thanks for your quick response. My full name in Lulu Tao Ashley, i was
born in Beijing (China), i speak both Chinese&English . Here is little
about me, My father is from U.S.A and my mother from China. I am
female single 21yrs, fun, friendly, clean, quiet, non-smoker, don’t do
drugs and respectful of others. I attended University of Science &
Technology Beijing, graduated last year.

I’m coming to stay for a year, my main purpose of coming down to USA
is for my master’s. I am currently in Alaska in a village “Nunivak
Island” on a research work and will be coming soon… I’ll loved to
call you but here is a remote area calls are very hard to go through,
kindly understand my situation and please e-mail me some picture of
the room because i will not be able to come over and check on it
before renting.

Please tell me little about yourself…if you are a student?,
working?, married or single?, if there is a garage or parking space
because i will be coming with my own car. Let me know the total amount
for the first month rent, i will be paying upfront so that you can be
rest assured that am really interested in renting the room from you.
My mode of payment is US Check, so please feed me back with the
following details so that i can ensure you are ready to rent the room
to me.

Look forward to read back from you with the requested details, so that
i can forward it to my father to issue out the check for the deposit
and month rent upfront as soon as possible, with that you can hold on
the place prior my arrival..

Lulu Tao”

Then
“Thanks so much for the details provided, I’ll forward it to my father
for him issue out payment on time. I’m so happy that you are renting
the room to me, pls secure the room prior my arrival by taken the ad
down Craiglist, this will give me a strong prove that the room has
been hold prior my arrival so that other interested people will not
make any inquiry. I’ll e-mail by giving you an update about the
status in regards to the payment and also provide the tracking number
from the carrier service delivery the check okay

Regarding my Car…. I’m planning on having it delivered to you before
my arrival so that you can come and pick me up at the airport and
settle in comfortably, you can understand that transiting car is not
easy so i am making arrangement with the car delivery agent to
deliver the car before my arrival.

I’ll ask you for a favor here, can i rely on you accepting the
delivery of the car?, as you’ll be handling the delivery of the car
along with the rent fee, the car money will be included in the check
coming to you, once you receive the check you will help me have the
car money send to the car dealer agent, please let me know if you can
do this for me? and i promise to compensate you adequately for your
time and efforts on my arrival into your place.

Let me know at once if i can trust you to have the car money send to
the car dealer agent once you receive the check. I’ll be expecting
your email as soon as you can. Thanks so much for your
understanding…

Sincerely,”

Told the person We could not confirm approval with out them seeing photos and my landlords approval.. plan to refuse any and all money/the car?? upon arrival.
Any other thoughts?

Thank you, message board! I thought this message was sketchy because it asked for details already on the housing board and the style in general:

Hello,
I saw your rental listing and i will be coming from United Kingdom for a research program at the University Of California UCLA and i wanted to see if it’s still available. If so, could you let me know what the monthly rent is? Also, here are some other questions I had: Will the unit be furnished? What is the neighborhood like? On average, how much do the utilities cost? When will the unit be available? Can I sign a year lease Or Months To Months? Do you require a deposit?I look forward to hearing from you and you can email me at…. michellewilliamson1999@gmail.com
Thanks for your time.
Sincerely,
Michelle.

Hilarious and frustrating!!! I am trying to find accommodations to share for my daughter who is moving to DC to train at Washigton Ballet and finish her senior year in high school online. I have been through NUMEROUS sites and so far almost every response I have recieve seems a scam of some sort.

Either “when do you want to see my place” and when I respond I get no reply or “just fill out this quick credit app/follow this link” and we will proceed.

I have been referred to third party sites, asked to send a pic and bio and asked to submit to a credit report before seeing the apartment/room.

Is there ANYWHERE I can go that is legitimate??? So irritating.
Feel free to email me legit housing solutions in DC INSIDE THE BELTWAY or in Arlington or NW area near the red line. Thanks all!!Tamathakay@icloud.com.

I received 8 different text messages from different numbers and even two phone calls, one leaving a message. I am not a part of craigslist or any roommate website. How did they get my phone number? Any idea on how to get them to stop texting or calling my phone?

Thank you for this information. Someone just sent me a text that he/she is interested in our shed we have for rent for living quarters, but they sent me this very website. Glad they did, to remind me to be careful about scams. I have almost been scammed by a “nanny scam” in the past that worked the same way. Hoping to still find someone to rent out the shed though.

I just wanted to update everyone that these people are not only replying to craigslist ads but I just added an item on Offer Up (the app) and the same person with the following email responded almost immediately: sebbx23es@gmail.com – I did a Google search on this email and found out that in 2014 this person was trying to scam and now two years later they are still using the same email address.

I wish I had read you article a few days earlier. I had exactly what you said in your story happen but I sent back the money. Luckily it wasn’t much and I have money to make up what I lost. Lesson learned and next time I know to follow my gut no matter what the other person says.

What they all have in common is that the phone number is not a fully active number. It is to a google relay or a message receiving service. They always prefer text or email communication and can not call or receive a call. They give various reasons that are not legit.

Also once I tell them I need them to call me or I need to meet them in person then there is no more contact from them.

i got 2 of these in a row. The first one I deleted before I found this site but while I was looking for it this one came up.
Same situation as the frist only difference is they country the first one was Jessica from Germany living in Alaska.

Good to hear back from you, I’m interested in renting the room. My
name is Emilia Kingsley i was born in Japan i speak both Japanese &
English, am single, fun, loving, clean, loyal and respectful of
others, don’t have any pet. More about me, my father is from US and my
mother is from Japan. I’m 21yrs old, sex female, i attend Tokyo
University, graduated a year ago.

I’m coming to stay for a year, and am coming for my master’s degree.
I’m currently in Alaska in a village “Nunivak Island” on a research
work and will be coming soon… I’ll be arriving August, I’ll loved to
call you but here is a remote area calls are very hard to go through,
please send me some picture of the room because i will not be able to
come over and check on it before renting.

Please tell me little about yourself…if you are a student?,
working?, married or single?, if there is a garage or parking space
because i will be coming with my own car. Let me know the total amount
for the first month rent, i will be paying upfront so that you can be
rest assured that am really interested in renting the room from you…

My mode of payment is US Check, so please feed me back with the
following details so that i can ensure you are ready to rent the room
to me.

I’ll be waiting to read back from you with the information requested
so that i can forward it to my father to issue out the check for the
deposit and month rent upfront as soon as possible, with that you can
hold on the place prior my arrival… Thanks for your co-operation

I received the following email for a listing I have for a condo rental in College Station Texas. All the questions being asked are on the listing other than “is the unit still available” so this is definitely a scam.

Hello,

I saw your rental listing and i will be coming from United Kingdom for a research program at Texas A&M University and i wanted to see if it’s still available. If so, could you let me know what the monthly rent is? Also, here are some other questions I had: Will the unit be furnished? What is the neighborhood like? On average, how much do the utilities cost? When will the unit be available? Can I sign a year lease Or Months To Months? Do you require a deposit?

My son almost fell prey to this exact scam. The person wanting to rent was going to have a new car sent to the address where my son was renting. He was reading me the email when I stopped him and said, “this is a scam”. He replied that I must be wrong. I went to the internet and found this site so I could prove to him that it was a scam. Thanks for posting as it saved heartache for my son.

Thanks for this information. I almost scammed too, but I found the email address in this blog. The email address is :elite09needplace@gmail.com
I have others that I will publish later.
Again thanks for share the information.

1-518-412-2107 From Yetta Martinez claiming to be doing research in Alaska.
Here are the text messages:
Hi ___ ____… Are you there?
Me: Yes
How are you doing today?.. This is Yetta Martinez a lady renting a room from you
Me: Did you see my e-mail?
Me: And the attachment? (Rental Application)
Yes i got your email and information and have forwarded it to my dad to issued the payment to you and i will like to know if you receive my email Regarding my car and the nearest Airport i can fly into ?
Me: Exactly where are you now?
Alaska?
Me: Why would you be crossing the Atlantic?
about my car
Me: Ok
Me: Where are you going to study?
am coming for my master Degree in Philosophy
Me: Which University?
Me: Yetta, please check your email again and fill out the attached document and send it back ASAP. Sorry to be such a pain.
Me: Also, how do you plan to register your car? You will not be able to drive it until it is registered in Maryland.
Bethesda, Maryland
Me: Yes.
can i trust you with my dad money coming to you and can you email me the nearest airport i can fly into and if you will be able to help me receive my car?
Me: Yetta, is this your first time in the mainland USA ?
Yes
Me: Which university are you planning to attend?
Me: And do you know Dulcie? (did a google search of the phone number. Its registered to- +1-518-412-2107 – Dulcie Szczepanski – Co Hwy 8a, Elizabethtown, New York)
I sent you already
Me: Yetta, did you receive the rental application?
Me: Also, what are you studing in mekoryuk? (looked up the place in Alaska she was referring to).

Thanks for getting back to me with the information requested. I got the information and i’ll have it forward to my Dad to issue out payment to you on time. I really appreciate that you are ready to accept me roommate, i will like you to have a little patience for the check to arrive to your address and also secure the room prior my arrival. I’ll e-mail by giving you an update about the status in regards to the payment and also provide the tracking number from the courier service. I’ll like you to take the ad down CL and email me back with the nearest Airport to fly into, so that will give me a strong prove that the room has been hold prior my arrival and other interested people will not make any enquirer..

Regarding my Car, i am planning on having it delivered to you before my arrival so that you can come and pick me up at the airport and settle in comfortably, you can understand that transiting cross Atlantic is not easy so i am making arrangement with the car delivery person to deliver the car before my arrival, after the rent and security deposit has been paid to you by my dad. I’ll ask you for a favor here, can i rely on you to take delivery of the car for me when it’s delivered.I’ll like to know the convenient time for you to receive the car for me. As you’ll be handling the delivery of the car with the rent and deposit to be sent to you so that you can help me handle the delivery payment for the car, the car money has been included with the check coming to you. I’ll really appreciate if you can do this for me and promise to compensate you adequately for your time and efforts on my arrival into your place.

Let me know at once if i can trust you to have the rest fund to the Car Delivery Agent once you get the check, i will be expecting your e-mail as soon as you receive my e-mail. Thanks so much for your understanding…

Hey morning i got your post on Cl this morning about room for rent and i will like to inform you that my daughter Yetta she is need of room by the middle of this month and if you have one room with private bathroom available for her to move in pls shoot her an e-mail at yetta7ff@gmail.com with the amount to move in and the best time for me to come and view the room..she is very nice and she can pass any background check with no problem Thanks Mrs Martinez

Same email different name Rose Anderson.
I’m so glad to hear from you quick, I’m interested in renting the
room. My name is Rose Anderson i was born in France (Paris) i speak
both French & English, am single, fun, loving, clean, loyal and
respectful of others, don’t have any pet. More about me, my father is
from US and my mother is from France. I’m 24yrs old, sex female, i
attend American University of Paris, graduated a year ago.

I’m coming to stay for a year, and am coming for my master’s
degree.I’m currently in Alaska in a village “Nunivak Island” on a
research work and will be coming soon.
i’ll loved to call you but here is a remote area calls are very hard
to go through, please send me some picture of the room because i will
not be able to come over and check on it before renting.

Please tell me little about yourself…if you are a
student?,working?, married or single?, if there is a garage or parking
space because i will be coming with my own car. Let me know the total
amount for the first month rent, i will be paying upfront so that you
can be rest assured that am really interested in renting the room from
you…

My mode of payment is US Check, so please feed me back with the
following details so that i can ensure you are ready to rent the room
to me.

I’ll be waiting to read back from you with the information
requested so that i can forward it to my father to issue out the check
for the deposit and month rent upfront as soon as possible, with that
you can hold on the place prior my arrival… Thanks for your
co-operation

Regard

Thanks for getting back to me with the information requested. I got
the information and i’ll have it forward to my Dad to issue out
payment to you on time. I really appreciate that you are ready to
accept me roommate, i will like you to have a little patience for the
check to arrive to your address and also secure the room prior my
arrival. I’ll e-mail by giving you an update about the status in
regards to the payment and also provide the tracking number from the
carrier service. I’ll like you to take the ad down CL, so that will
give me a strong prove that the room has been hold prior my arrival
and other interested people will not make any enquirer..

Regarding my Car, i am planning on having it delivered to you before
my arrival so that you can come and pick me up at the airport and
settle in comfortably, you can understand that transiting cross
Atlantic is not easy so i am making arrangement with the car dealer to
deliver the car before my arrival, after the rent and security deposit
has been paid to you by my dad. I’ll ask you for a favor here, can i
rely on you to take delivery of the car for me when it’s
delivered.I’ll like to know the convenient time for you to receive the
car for me. As you’ll be handling the delivery of the car with the
rent and deposit to be sent to you so that you can help me handle the
delivery payment for the car, the car money has been included with the
check coming to you. I’ll really appreciate if you can do this for me
and promise to compensate you adequately for your time and efforts on
my arrival into your place.

Let me know at once if i can trust you to have the rest fund to the
Car Dealer Agent once you get the check, i will be expecting your
e-mail as soon as you receive my e-mail. Thanks so much for your
understanding…

I got the email form mingyuo54321@gmail.com (cell phone: 1-843-900-7148)
but with different phone number, here is the number she used: 513-536-6304, and other is 512-640-9275. but she used the number of 1-843-900-7148, to pretend she is a police officer that tries to help our for the scam, and try to sent me back the money. Don’t trust that! I was so stupid and I helped her to create 2 email addresses. I think it for scamming as well. Be Aware!!! Here are the email: carolynmoore813@gmail.comkarenhernadez813@gmail.com
I am not smart enough to avoid this, but share to people! Let avoid scamming!!
the one reason that I trap on it because the money thing, I want my money back so much, I trusted it, Take it from me. Dont let the money trap on you!

This just happened to me in September 2016. Thank you for the thread because the elements of scam totally matched up with what I was experiencing. The person claimed to be Andrea Clark from Rapid City, South Dakota. There was an elaborate story about how she was a yogi who recently lost her mom to cancer. I kept requesting that I talk to her on the phone. She also used the following phone number: 605-865-7390

I’m glad I looked into this. I have sev people interested in renting a room, coincidently, the person you mentioned in your thread, messaged me. But claiming her name is Andrea Smithson…… I had a feeling something was off when I started to do further research.

Looks Like this story is becoming a common scam …. Andrea Mcormick this time!!
Hello, I am looking to rent soon and i think its fair to let you know about me, My name’s Andrea Mcormick, 27y/o single female, easygoing and fun to be around. I don’t smoke, drink nor do drugs. I clean up after myself, as well as my environment, I am respectful of other people’s privacy and opinions. I am pet friendly but do not own any. I’m from Rapid City, S.Dakota and the reason behind my move is simply because of change. And this is about time as i just lost my mother to cancer (I have been putting off my move just because she’s been sick for long). I have been wanting to try a new place, have new experience, and most importantly achieve my goals. I am a travel Nurse by profession, but teaching yoga is what i love doing, I have broad knowledge of yoga/wellness as i had the opportunity to learn that in India 3 years ago and i have been teaching people here too. I am a christian, and yoga to me is about the purity of the body and mind/improving health and I will never bring it home if you object to it. About rent, I have money saved up, so you wouldn’t have to worry about me paying rent/bills on time till i get settled. I plan making my own yoga video and I also will be looking to rent a space in the area(or maybe gym) when i move, as i planned giving yoga classes to people there when i move. I am financially reliable and it has been a plus making money from teaching yoga as a lot of people look after themselves now in an easy way. I will like to find a place before i start looking around for something physical/permanent at hospitals there too. I choose to tell you all about me as i need no drama, so please email me back if you are looking to rent ASAP and let me know if i am someone you’d like to rent to. I will provide my number, pics as long as i am sure that you’d be renting to me in next emails. Thanks for your time and i await your next email with details.

Just got the same letter. The guy who wrote to me was actually pretty good at scam, started really legit, asked for pictures, asked questions about neighborhood. Funny thing started when I asked for skype talk and he would purposefully avoid it in his replies. I got suspicious and told him that he has to go through the application with the leasing office first and once they clear him, I’d be more than happy to provide the address and accept any checks and money orders. Guess who’s fallen silent just after that message?
The guy introduces himself as Daniel Parker, his e-mail is bigzhangdanny@gmail.com

Hi I just fell for this at the initial level and couldn’t believe my eyes as she sounded like a great roommate. Too good to be true. Here are the two emails I received. The initial one and the one I got back this morning after writing to the email she provided:
Hi,

I’m a 24 year old female who is very friendly and super down to earth. I am currently looking for a clean and quiet room to live. I’m open to a month-to-month situation, or a long-term rental if available. Send me an e-mail to this my direct email if interested……wling3838 at gmail . com….. I’m a non-smoker, non-drinker and not a big party-er but I love to meet and hang out with new people.

I am a shy, quiet, respectful individual that does not like drama. I don’t drink, do drugs, or engage in illegal activity. I’m very active and social on the weekends and tend to stay busy with sports, and various other hobbies. I’m quiet, respectful, and tidy when it comes to living with others. Open to male/female roommates but preferably someone with similar interests. Send me an e-mail to my direct email above if interested

I would ideally like to pay between $500 and $1200 a month, but am open to all offers! A low deposit would also be preferable.

Please contact me if interested.

Cheers

SECOND EMAIL I RECEIVED:
Thanks for the swift response. My name is Fiona, female and 24 years of age, single, fun-loving, outspoken, friendly, clean, caring and respectful of others, a non-smoker (but can hangout in a smoky bar) don’t do drugs, drink occasionally and not drama-friendly. I would love to secure the room for myself prior to my arrival to the States. I like my roommate to be very caring and friendly. I will be in the States before the end of the month for the next two years and maybe more as I’ll be coming for my master degree program and could decide to settle in the States after my studies. I was born in Scotland (UK) and my Dad is from Kahului,Hawaii but he has been living in Scotland for over 27 years. I obtained my bachelor’s degree (Economics) from the University Of Edinburgh and I speak fluent English with a Scottish accent.

I am usually pretty busy and I have lived with many roommates before. I tend to get along better with people who are mature and are also busy with their lives. I am not looking into becoming best friends with my roommates but I am always friendly and respectful but if we do seem to get along very well, I am happy to hang out more.

I’m currently in Kosovo visiting a sick cousin (Aurelia) and I’m really interested in renting from you and also hope you consider giving the room to me. I understand I can’t be able to view the place in person so I would prefer some recent pictures of the room (the exterior maybe). I would like you to tell me more about you and also if you have a garage or parking space since I will need a garage for my car and if a garage is not available I think a street parking is an option.Please let me know the total payment of the place so I can forward your email and information to my Dad since he is the one to be paying the bills. The payment will be drawn from a United States cashier’s check and I would need the following information from you to have my Dad make out the payment as early as possible.

I’m really grateful for accepting to give me the room. The payment will be processed and sent out before the end of the week and I’ll get back to you with the tracking number and my flight information once they are ready. I would love to know the best time to come as I believe Sundays are always better for traveling but I would prefer you tell me so I know the best time to come since I might need you to help pick me at the airport. Can you also let me know the nearest airport to you and also try and take the AD off Craigslist finally so as to avoid any inconveniences.

As regards my car, I’m planning on having it delivered to the apartment before my arrival so as to settle comfortably when I arrive. I’m sure you understand transiting cross Atlantic is not easy so I’m making arrangement with the car dealer to deliver the car before my arrival after the rent and security deposit has been paid to you by my Dad. I will ask you for a favor here, Can I rely on you to take delivery of the car for me when it’s delivered. As you will be handling the delivery of the car with the rent and deposit to be sent to you so that you can help me handle the delivery payment for the car. The delivery payment will be included with the Check coming to you. I will really appreciate if you can do this for me and promise to compensate you adequately for your time and efforts on my arrival to your place.

I’m highly interested in the room after going through your message and will need you to get back to me with your full name and mailing information so I can have my Dad make out the payment to you before the end of the week.

Thanks,
Fiona Huddlestone

On Fri, Sep 16, 2016 at 1:51 AM, Jennifer Price wrote:

Hello Fiona,

I am twice your age, caring and friendly. My former room mates have called my house the house of marriage :-). They both got married after living with me for a while. My third room mate moved back to her home in Ohio. I work full time and mother people, I’ve been told 🙂 . I have a cat, hope you’re not allergic. I sometimes have an occasional glass of wine or a beer depending on the mood, usually at home.

There is parking in the driveway in front of the house and the total payment per month is $500.00. I will send you the exterior pictures soon as it is almost 8pm right now and dark outside.

Just to be on the safe side, could you also send me a picture of you. I have been catfished and would rather not send out any personal information until I am sure you are for real. I look forward to having you as my room mate!!!!

Thanks,

Jennifer

On Thursday, September 15, 2016 2:46 PM, Fiona Huddlestone wrote:

Thanks for the swift response. My name is Fiona, female and 24 years of age, single, fun-loving, outspoken, friendly, clean, caring and respectful of others, a non-smoker (but can hangout in a smoky bar) don’t do drugs, drink occasionally and not drama-friendly. I would love to secure the room for myself prior to my arrival to the States. I like my roommate to be very caring and friendly. I will be in the States before the end of the month for the next two years and maybe more as I’ll be coming for my master degree program and could decide to settle in the States after my studies. I was born in Scotland (UK) and my Dad is from Kahului,Hawaii but he has been living in Scotland for over 27 years. I obtained my bachelor’s degree (Economics) from the University Of Edinburgh and I speak fluent English with a Scottish accent.

I am usually pretty busy and I have lived with many roommates before. I tend to get along better with people who are mature and are also busy with their lives. I am not looking into becoming best friends with my roommates but I am always friendly and respectful but if we do seem to get along very well, I am happy to hang out more.

I’m currently in Kosovo visiting a sick cousin (Aurelia) and I’m really interested in renting from you and also hope you consider giving the room to me. I understand I can’t be able to view the place in person so I would prefer some recent pictures of the room (the exterior maybe). I would like you to tell me more about you and also if you have a garage or parking space since I will need a garage for my car and if a garage is not available I think a street parking is an option.Please let me know the total payment of the place so I can forward your email and information to my Dad since he is the one to be paying the bills. The payment will be drawn from a United States cashier’s check and I would need the following information from you to have my Dad make out the payment as early as possible.

Full Name:
Address:
City,State & Postal Code:
Phone Number:

Thanks,
Fiona Huddlestone

On Thu, Sep 15, 2016 at 3:52 PM, Jennifer Price wrote:

Hi,

You never gave your name so I’m not sure what to call you. The room is still available if you would like to see it. The rent is $500/mnth all bills included. Please let me know if you want to schedule an appointment to see the room.

Thanks,

Jennifer

On Thursday, September 15, 2016 5:22 AM, craigslist reply fd16 wrote:

Hi,

I’m a 24 year old female who is very friendly and super down to earth. I am currently looking for a clean and quiet room to live. I’m open to a month-to-month situation, or a long-term rental if available. Send me an e-mail to this my direct email if interested……wling3838 at gmail . com….. I’m a non-smoker, non-drinker and not a big party-er but I love to meet and hang out with new people.

I am a shy, quiet, respectful individual that does not like drama. I don’t drink, do drugs, or engage in illegal activity. I’m very active and social on the weekends and tend to stay busy with sports, and various other hobbies. I’m quiet, respectful, and tidy when it comes to living with others. Open to male/female roommates but preferably someone with similar interests. Send me an e-mail to my direct email above if interested

I would ideally like to pay between $500 and $1200 a month, but am open to all offers! A low deposit would also be preferable.

This has just happened to me. I have a room for rent $500 per month, and this lady sent me a very genuine email saying shes a french student who’s working on her bachelors degree, but she says she cant come see the room because shes in an island in Alaska doing research and cant call me because she has no connection, and wont have time to come see it. So i started talking to her via email asking her questions, and all she can say is “sounds good! Now send me your information so I cant send you the check.” and I’m like… I didn’t even send you the picture of the room/get to know you more?? It’s too good to be true. I then tried looking her name up “Merry Jude” and this website popped up lol… and I thought it was weird because her email had 94 in it like thats her birth year, but then she told me she’s 24?

Hi, i just want to share my experience with everyone. I have being hearing about this blank ATM card for a while and i never really paid any interest to it because of my doubts. Until one day i discovered a hacking guy called (OSCAR WHITE). he is really good at what he is doing. Back to the point, I inquired about The Blank ATM Card. If it works or even Exist.He told me Yes and that its a card programmed for random money withdraws without being noticed and can also be used for free online purchases of any kind. This was shocking and i still had my doubts. Then i gave it a try and asked for the card and agreed to their terms and conditions. Hoping and praying it was not a scam. One week later i received my card and tried with the closest ATM machine close to me, It worked like magic. I was able to withdraw up to $4500. This was unbelievable and the happiest day of my life. So far i have being able to withdraw up to $28000 without any stress of being caught. I don’t know why i am posting this here, i just felt this might help those of us in need of financial stability. blank Atm has really change my life. If you want to contact him, Here is the email address oscarwhitehackersworld@gmail.com And I believe he will also Change your Life….

Just want to share in case someone does a google search on the same email. At least by sharing we are forcing scammers to change details of their blanket emails.

Thanks for your quick response. Please, do allow me to introduce myself and tell you more about my needs. I am Jenny Morgan by name, 32 years old from Alaska. I am a recent college graduate as a Radiologist and presently working with my college teaching hospital. I am a peaceful, easy going, friendly person and I do have respect for people’s privacy.

I’m coming to down-there on a sponsored program to join a team of researchers on a private medical research project. I will always be gone for work from Monday-Thursday and will be back on Friday evening. I am to secure my accommodation and move in on the day I arrive to town. I want to know the requirements and procedures to secure the room prior to my arrival. I will appreciate more information about the apartment, the in house amenities. Could you please furnish me with some information about the neighborhood’s security, amenities and the full address of the property as well?.

I think it will be good we acquaint with each other before we finally meet in person. Could you also tell me more about yourself?. Attached is my picture. I need you to confirm the total amount required to be paid before I move in.

Thanks so much for your quick reply I’m interested in renting the room. My name is Becky Gilbert i was born in France (Paris) i speak both French & English, am single, fun,loving,clean, loyal and respectful of others, don’t have any pet. More about me, my father is from US and my mother is from France. I’m 27yrs old, sex female, i attend American University of Paris, graduated a year ago.
I’m coming to stay for a year, and am coming for my master’s degree.I’m currently in Guam (Sinajana)” on a research work and will be coming soon…i’ll loved to call you but here is a remote area calls are very hard to go through, please send me some picture of the room if you can because i will not be able to come over and check on it before renting.
Please tell me little about yourself…if you are a student?,working?, married or single?, if there is a garage or parking space because i will be coming with my own car. Let me know the total amount for the first month rent, i will be paying upfront so that you can be rest assured that am really interested in renting the room from you…
I will be paying via a Bank certified check, so please get back to me with the following details so that i can ensure you are ready to rent the room to me. I will sign all necessary papers/Lease at the point of my arrival because there is no printer and scanner close to me.
BELOW IS THE INFORMATION NEEDED

I’ll be waiting to read back from you with the information requested so that i can forward it to my father to issue out the check for the deposit and month rent upfront as soon as possible, with that you can hold on the place prior my arrival.Thanks for your co-operation

Lisa, I got the exact same one from BeckyGilbert53 haha…. the thing that hooked me for longer is that I couldn’t figure out how they can benefit from a scam… only when I researched more carefully I finally see how they plan to send me too much in fake cheque and ask return some my money… aha… the thing that made me confused from the start was, how does this person want to rent in USA right here in my little town, they seem to have no connection to this town, and also don’t even really seem to know where I am… also why is coming from Guam across the Atlantic? haha… but really, it has been dicking me around about 2 weeks or a week and half now, I kept going down the post office every day, no tracking number as promised… it’s annoying cos I was needing sleep, I work nights.. hhhhh… so I will put it back on craigslist again and a little more experience on scams…

Something similar happened to me on rentler.com or KSL.com. However, a few updates to the comments above that all should now watch for::

-She bcc’d my email address when replying.
-She used the name of the local college in my area
-Gave me a link to her Facebook account. (seemed very real)

It all seemed so legitimate but ultimately the same small grammar errors, asking for details that were previously explained in our correspondence, etc all became all to clear. Scammers are the worst. Any way to report them or share somewhere to help others?

I got the same exact scam. Here is their email:
Hi, Thanks for your email. I love shopping alot.. Is there a Walmart or Walgreen store around you? Also, I will be shipping my BMW car. I hope you can show me places around when i come.

I am extremely interested in renting the place. Well, I will be making a payment for the first month rent or deposit before my arrival so that you can secure it for my ahead of my arrival. I want you to know that i am serious about renting it. My boss will be sending it to you and you will get it this week, paying my rent would not be a burden to me. I will need the following information so that the payment can be sent out to you soon. I will need your

– Your full name as it will appear on the check ,
– Your address to ensure delivery in your hands through regular
mails or a courier service this week,
– Your phone number to keep contact close and avoid package missing in
transit.

NB: Can you please stop talking to other people since i am extremely interested? I don’t mind paying you $100 for taking down the ad so that you can stop talking to them. This can stand as commitment fee

Hi Leanne. Your keen response indicates you’re interested renting the private entrance unit with me, the only setback I ponder on is not seeing the furnshed room till my arrival on Sunday 13th, I made several searches about Issaquah before finally committing to your location, proximity of the place is convenient to work so it’s viable for transport, my living situation and environment.

Can you provide pictures showing current condition of the private room, and house? please, Any local farmers market around, daily, weekly or seasonal? The closest around here is strictly during summer weekends with fresh produce. Do you have antique malls, cinemas, restaurants, boutiques and flower shops around the area? The weather has been rainy here, how is the weather there? hope there’s no leaks or tears in the roof and pipes?

I’m hearing impaired, the medical term is called Tinnitus, I wasn’t born deaf, I got infected with measles when younger, the disease was a defect in my medication. I know ASL and also lip read fluently, here’s my cellphone number:(951) 999-8105, I’m a 28 yo interior and fashion designer, I will be working with a private fashion house for top line models and bag designs. I’m reliable, trustworthy, responsible and most of all respect people boundaries. I have worked in the fashion and interior industry for over 3 years now, I interned then officially working as a leading fashion capturer and designer for private and bigger clients of companies. I write up and plan out specifics layout of the drawings before it’s simulated in real time, it’s very tasking and time consuming, I’m hard working and dedicated, that’s why I dislike working with lazy ,less creative and messy people, I’m 5’9 with blond hair and hazel eyes. I make sure my room and surroundings are kept clean most of the times. Cleanliness is one of my biggest traits, I won’t leave dirty dishes all night , I believe what has to be done needs attention. I don’t expect my housemate to have the same values as I do though.

I won’t be coming with pets, I adore them with a passion but I won’t have the energy to take care of them because of my schedule, I’m liberal, straight, and pro-lgbt rights, I don’t judge towards religion, sexual preference, food or life generally. I don’t smoke or do any form of drugs, I may have few drinks (wine) during weekends but nothing heavy. apart from work, I enjoy swimming, playing long tennis and snow boarding.

I have a new car I’ll be shipping down with some artworks, I don’t plan bringing furnishings, my 2015 BMW F30 335i (M sport) and personal effects, do let me know how I can go about securing the place with rent/deposit, I’m sure you have other applicants,I don’t want you renting to other applicants before I do. If there’s any application paperwork or rental agreement, I can easily have it signed before my arrival, my references are below, I’ll be leaving here on Sunday morning, 13th,November, do take note in-case you need to make any arrangement pending my arrival.

I assure that your rules, terms and regulations would be strictly adhered to, In life everything should be firm but friendly, not oatfish or obsequious as seems to be the present day trend. I apologize if my message seem long or tardy to read, I’m sincerely looking for a reliable place when I relocate to Washington. Please let me know your thoughts, hopefully, positive.

I viewed your ad on Craigslist this morning, I’m interested in the available private room, I’ll be coming from Augusta,ME, not too warm here unlike your location, more personal information about my relocation plans and cellphone number would be shared after hearing from you.

Really appreciated finding this post and all the many comments. Thanks for posting the scammers’ email addresses and the emails themselves. Super helpful for those of us doing Google searches as I found my scammer’s email address in several of these comments. Thank you! Here’s one that I received this evening.

Scammer’s name: Michelle Williamson
Email address: michellewilliamson1999@gmail.com (and I was a bcc on the email, by the way)
Email text: “Hi there,
I am Michelle,I’m replying to your ad and I’d like to know if the place is still available.Also let me know the neighborhood and the utilities included in the place A little about my personalty. I am 22 year old,coming for a research program in the state am single and nice,I’ll love to live with clean,caring and responsible people.I am presently in UK,,I will love to move in as soon as possible, but it all depends on the availability of the room.I am serious about renting and I would like to move in depending on the availability of the room I will try as much as possible to pay my rent before due.
I would wait impatiently for your next email.
Thank You.”

This one has “scam” written all over it — hope this helps someone to avoid being scammed by “Betty”!

On Thursday, December 15, 2016 6:04 PM, Betty Atkinson wrote:

Hello,

Thanks for getting back to me, am interested in staying in the room
for a Lease period. My name is Betty Atkinson, was born and raised in
Lima, Ohio . I speak English and a little Chinese, am single, clean
and respectful of others, don’t have any pet but no problem if you
have got pets. My Dad is from Barrow, Alaska and Mom is from
Guangzhou, China. I’m 23 years old female,I obtained my bachelor’s
degree (Arts and Social Sciences) from the Akron, Ohio. I would be
there for my Master’s Degree in Visual arts education. I’m presently
on Shackleford Banks, North Carolina on a research program with the
National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) but would be coming down soon. I
would have love to call you, but here is a remote area calls hardly go
through but i receive text messages. please send me some picture of
the room because i will not be able to come over and check on it
before moving in. I would love to know more about yourself. If you are
a student? worker? married or single? if there is a garage or parking
space because i will be coming with my own car. Let me know the total
amount for the deposit and first month rent, I will be paying upfront
so that you can be rest assured that i really do want to secure the
room. I will be paying you via a Bank certified check, so kindly get
back to me with the below details so that i can ensure you are ready
to rent the room to me. I would be signing necessary documents/Lease
at the point of my arrival because i have got no printer and scanner
here with me.

Kindly get back to me with the details requested so that i can get it
across to my father to issue out the check for the deposit and month
rent upfront asap, with that you can hold on the place prior my
arrival. Thanks for your co-operation.

Betty Atkinson

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On Thursday, December 15, 2016 6:04 PM, Betty Atkinson wrote:

Hello,

Thanks for getting back to me, am interested in staying in the room
for a Lease period. My name is Betty Atkinson, was born and raised in
Lima, Ohio . I speak English and a little Chinese, am single, clean
and respectful of others, don’t have any pet but no problem if you
have got pets. My Dad is from Barrow, Alaska and Mom is from
Guangzhou, China. I’m 23 years old female,I obtained my bachelor’s
degree (Arts and Social Sciences) from the Akron, Ohio. I would be
there for my Master’s Degree in Visual arts education. I’m presently
on Shackleford Banks, North Carolina on a research program with the
National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) but would be coming down soon. I
would have love to call you, but here is a remote area calls hardly go
through but i receive text messages. please send me some picture of
the room because i will not be able to come over and check on it
before moving in. I would love to know more about yourself. If you are
a student? worker? married or single? if there is a garage or parking
space because i will be coming with my own car. Let me know the total
amount for the deposit and first month rent, I will be paying upfront
so that you can be rest assured that i really do want to secure the
room. I will be paying you via a Bank certified check, so kindly get
back to me with the below details so that i can ensure you are ready
to rent the room to me. I would be signing necessary documents/Lease
at the point of my arrival because i have got no printer and scanner
here with me.

Kindly get back to me with the details requested so that i can get it
across to my father to issue out the check for the deposit and month
rent upfront asap, with that you can hold on the place prior my
arrival. Thanks for your co-operation.

I am looking for a basement/apartment to rent . I am a 31 year old female, non smoker, no drugs and no drink. I’m quiet, respectful and kind of keep to myself. I don’t party and I have a good work .Please email me if you have anything available or if you have any questions.

Scammer’s name and email address: Jessica J Alison and this is the scammer’s response:

…….Thanks for responding to my ad ,I’m so glad to hear you have
room available for me,I would have loved to see you and the room
before making any plan,but the distance between us is issue. My full
name is Jessica J.Alison ,am female single, fun, loving, clean but not
to
freaky lol, and respectful of others, I don’t do drug and i don’t
smoke or drink.. I enjoy going out with my friends to movies, plays
parks, hikes, anything to do with the ocean and horses but I’m cool
living with people. I was born in Munich Germany and i attend Hamburg
University of Technology Germany i graduated couple of year ago.

I’m coming for a long term stay and am ready to sign a lease as soon
as i get there but am presently on research work at Puerto Rico and
will be coming for my master’s degree starting from 10th of
January,2017 but will be arriving to your place December 23rd. I’ll
like to pay for the deposit and a month rent… I would have loved to
call you but here is remote area so call’s are very hard to go
through, so please try and understand and also I’ll would have love
to come and check at the room before renting but am very far and
strictly busy at the moment,but with pictures that will makes me happy.

I’ll like you to tell me more about yourself and if you have garage or
parking space cos i will have my own car come over, please let me know
the total amount for the first month rent ,Also payment will be done
by via US Cashier’s & Certified Check and i give you the guarantee
that you wont have any problem cashing it any your bank. So want you
to feed me back with the following details so that i can ensure you
are ready to accept the payment.

Waiting for your e-mail with the information requested so that i can
forward it to my father to issue out the check for the deposit and
month rent with that you can hold on the place for me till i come
soon…I will be looking forward to your email soonest.I am ready to
have your place..My pic will be included in my next mail. Feel free to
ask me any question(s) you have okay,

I’m so glad to hear the room is still available for rent…here is little about myself, my name is Andrea Coker. I speak both Spanish & English, am single, fun, loving, clean, and respectful of others, don’t do drugs. My father is from US and my mother is from Spain, am 26yrs old, sex female. I was born in Malaga (Spain), i attend Malaga University….graduated 2 year ago.

I’m coming for a long term stay and am ready to sign a year lease as soon as i get to your house, but am presently on research work at singapore and will be coming for my master’s degree soon. I’ll be arriving Jan 15th and am going to pay for the deposit and one month rent upfront, i will loved to call you but here is a remote area calls are very hard to go through, and also love to come and check at the room before renting but am very far, with pictures that will makes me happy and feel comfortable.

Please tell me little about yourself…if you are a student?, working?, married or single?, if there is a garage or parking space because i will be coming with my own car. Let me know the total amount for the first month rent, because i will be paying upfront so that it will give you strong prove that am really interested in renting the room from you. Payment will be done via US Cashier’s or Certified Check, so please feed me back with the following details so that i can ensure you are ready to rent the room to me.

I’ll be waiting to read back from you with the information requested so that i can forward it to my father to issue out the check for the deposit and month rent up front as soon as possible, with that you can hold on the place prior my arrival… Thanks for your co-operation

I also did not receive payment today nor have I received a tracking number from you or the company who is shipping the payment. Please advise. Thank you

On Jan 4, 2017 1:59 PM, “Vanessa LeBlue” wrote:
Hello Andrea,

I tried to go to your Facebook page, and it won’t let me as it seems I’m blocked ?

On Jan 3, 2017 11:37 PM, “Vanessa LeBlue” wrote:
Hello Andrea,
I apologize for the delay, as I’m usually pretty busy with work, family and preparing for next semester. You can call me at my cell number or you can video chat with me on Facebook. You can reach me anytime during my lunch hour (which is between noon and 1:00 p.m.) or you can reach me after work I get off at 4:30 p.m.

Talk to you soon,

Vanessa

On Jan 3, 2017 3:10 PM, “Andrea Coker” wrote:
Hello, How are you doing today , I will like to keep you updated that the payment has already been mailed out to you and it will be delivered before noon tomorrow. I am going to text the tracking number for it to your phone and also want you to get back to me with the best time to call you or when you can meet on Facebook to chat . I look forward to read back from you with an update to be sure you got this, Do stay blessed .

I haven’t received a response from you from my last couple of emails. Are you still wanting to rent the room in my home ? I have removed the ad from Roomster. If I don’t receive a response from you by tomorrow morning; I will assume that you are no longer interested. I look forward to hearing from you. Have a great day.

Thank You,
Vanessa

On Jan 2, 2017 6:45 PM, “Vanessa LeBlue” wrote:
Hello Andrea,

I just finished installing new blinds in the room so I wanted to send you pictures. I included a picture of the bathroom as well. Also I’ve decided to take down the roomster ad as you requested.Thank you for your patience, as I’ve never rented a room this way.

On Jan 2, 2017 9:59 AM, “Vanessa LeBlue” wrote:
Good Morning Andrea,

As I mentioned in my last email; I will take down the Roomster ad when I receive payment from you for the room, And my bank accepts the payment. I just want to do it that way, so that I know everything is legitimate. I hope you understand. I might also be renting another room soon, as my other roommate may be moving out into her own apartment. The closest airport to me is Sacramento International Airport. Also could you please give me more information on the car situation and how that all works out ? I have attached pics of me and my 3 children and my 1 granddaughter. Currently one of my son’s, and my daughter lives with me. My granddaughter stays 50% of the week. Also I have a roommate that has been living with us since July. Her name is Laketta, and she is 28 years old. She works as a manager at a restaurant. Let me know of any other questions. Also please provide more information on what it is that you are requesting me to do concerning your vehicle. Thank you

On Jan 2, 2017 7:40 AM, “Andrea Coker” wrote:
Thank you so much and i’m so grateful… One more thing please, i will

How are you doing?Great and hope you are having a wonderful day .Pleasure hearing from you,i really appreciate it and i’m okay with the condition of the room and i must tell you that am really happy about the information provided,and i will want you to know that i’m really interested in renting the place from you and i won’t take any chance in loosing the room.All i will want you to do for me is to please remove the advert from the sites as i will not want to lose it to another person.And the payment out to you tomorrow,I have some of my lugages that i will be shipping, stored research profile desktop and Laptop computer and my car (Toyota Camry 2013 Model) the payment will include excess money for the rent and for the movers as soon as you get the payment you will deduct rent fee and keep the balance for the movers so that you will help me give the movers,so as soon as the movers come to deliver my stuffs, at the point of their delivery after you might have deducted the money for the rent.. All i will want you to do for me is to tell all appilicants the room rented by me as i will not want to lose it to another person and will get in touch with you as soon as the payment has been sent to you soon.Kindly check the name and address you gave me if its correct to avoid lost in transit.

$550 for a room I can pay, roommates I can do. 25 of age, no problems, no mess but pets are good. My own privacy I like and space, I respect others space 100%, pay rent on time always. very clean, honest, and dependable. anything available email me.

(first email) Hi ,

I really do appreciate your response to my text,.I would have loved us to see before making any plan but i really have a lot of things to do right now,But will be okay if you can tell me more about the place and you,as my uncle is presently sick and i have to go see him,but really want to hold a place down…

More about me :My name is Marjorie Dwyer, am Nurse with humanitarian assistance,I will be 27 by the 25th of next month,i love to live with clean people,caring,responsible,neat type. I’m 5″7′ straight,I like honest,responsible,trustworthy and hardworking people while I dislike lazy,messy,uncaring people and I love pets so much,am quiet and easy going person to live with. I don’t keep late nights neither will i have overnight guest around, but i am okay if you do,I was born and bread in France as there was where i had my university education and stays with my uncle there,but i am presently in south Dakota(U.s)

I lived all my life way in Paris before coming down to SD,I was in my final year when my mum died,i lost my dad before i was born,I grew up with my uncle after my mum died…I ve also wanted to be in the medical way since i was born,I served in the Paris Red Cross for 8 months,we have involved in projects that includes
orphans,orphanages,heart related diseases in children between the ages of 4-10 yrs .

Ambition and Work:

I was looking to move over to your state because i understand that I’ll be doing good over there as i ve been told by my uncle’s friend who ones live over there..And i will be working with any hospital around as i am also making enquires about that now…

Am sure You ‘ll really like the person that i am ,because i will also do the dishing if you like,I work when i am to and relax when i am to,I also like sharing my thoughts also….paying rent on time will not be a problem as i will also be making the rent fee before the month ends…. Right now. I ve the support of my uncle about my well being,so you shouldn’t be bothered about if i am competent of paying the rent I must confess am comfortable with the price and I will want to secure the place down before my arrival so i will want you to tell me all about the place,as i can’t see it before my arrival but the pictures…I also will want you to know that i have my car that i will be coming over with,and little of my furniture,please let me know if there will be room for them..

With all that i ve said above,I have told you more about me…Let me also know how i can go about securing the place down before my arrival as i will also be busy from next week preparing to come over and let me know if you can take off the ad off the site as i am going to secure the place with a deposit Feel free to ask me any question and as i ve said,but want to secured it now

Thanks..

Marjorie.

(second email) Hi again ,

Thanks once again for the quick reply,I would have loved to call You but am leaving now to see my sick uncle ,i can only communicate through email but I will, whenever i get there but before that i will want to secure the place,I am very happy meeting a person like you,It ‘s nice reading from you again and i will never ever want to loose the room even without seeing the place ,i smell the kind of person whom you are and i like you,I will want You to know that i am okay with the cost ,if none is included again…..

I got to believe that the person that one wants to live with matters most,i believe that you’ll be a nice person,I just have my dressers,computer table,kitchen utensils and a queen size bed,2 big luggages and my car to be shipped… I got a message that my uncle is sick in France and i have to go see him but i am making plans to secure place so that when i come back i’ll just move in into the place we are talking about. and with the way we ve communicated,I am okay with you and i want you to know that i don’t want to make any travel plans without securing a place down now,I will be signing a year lease for the start if you are okay with that,so i ve let my uncle understand more about you and the place,He is really comfortable and he told me that it is a nice area he had lived in the states before and he said that i should not afford to loose your place also he said that i should try and make sure that i hold down the place,so i thought of it and i will be making payment to hold down the place and the mode of payment will be the Most acceptable,easier,safer and reliable means of payment which is United State Certified money order so pls let me know if this mode of payment is ok by you.

And if YES pls provide me with the following information to get the payment to you.Your full name as it will appear on the payment,your work place address to ensure delivery in your hands through regular mails or a courier service,your phone number on the package to avoid package missing in transit. I will prefer to send to your work address because you will always be available at work from morning till evening but if home address it will be sitting in your mail and no one will be at home to receive the package.And if you don’t receive package at your office address then I guess your home address will be good for the delivery right ? But to avoid any delay of you receiving at home then I guess any address will be fine as long as you will be able to receive it.

Kindly get back to me with this requested address contact information so that we can proceed ASAP bye for now..

“Tanesha Thurman 10:15 PM 2017 01 15 wrote:
Hi,
I’m Extremely Interested In The Place.
I’m 28 years old, Physicist, i work as a Research analyst in a Federal research facility. My boyfriend and I just broke up and I’m looking for a fresh start, somewhere I can work on me and do my Job. I’m planning to rent for 1 year and 6 months. I am not a big party girl, and always like to leave a place better than I found it. As for my background, I have no criminal history. I’m originally from Plattsburgh, NY.. I went to Utica College for by bachelor’s degree and then attended Strathclyde University where I got my masters in Physics. I have worked for two other Petrochemical Chemicals Company in the state and now i work as a Research Analyst in a Federal Research facility in Newport county, RI. so I’m practically moving to the apartment from Rhode Island, I have good credit, references and no criminal record.

I’m very interested in the place however I also have few things of my own I wouldn’t need everything so my furniture won’t be a problem as i will be moving the ones that are not needed into my movers storage unit, i have dresser, queen size bed, brand new mattress, standing mirror, desk, side bed lamps, chandelier, cooking utensils, dryer, i ​​have my Car, some Interior decorations ( Persian Rug, Paintings, Sculptor and other Art stuff).. I wouldn’t mind checking out what’s there as there are some things I’m losing to my ex. Although i have lived on m​​y own for many years now and already have much of what I need.

Ideally I would like to move in as soon as possible but I’m ready to hold the place prior to my ​arrival​ I would be able to give you the down payment right away, my exact move in date is January 30th but then I’m ready to make the first month rent fee to hold the place. Having said that, I would love for us to meet somewhere first to discuss the whole rental process in real time but the nature of my job and work schedule won’t permit me and besides i can’t travel from Rhode Island just to see the place considering the distance but i’m guessing it’s a place and in a perfect neighborhood though. Frankly what my soul needs right now is a quiet and drama free environment. My first month rent fee will be in form of Certified Check let me know if you’re okay with the payment mode so i can take necessary measure with my supervisor to issue the payment to you, so you will get the payment before the end of next week if you provide the your name and address for the Check it will be be cut to you without further delay.
My pictures will be included in my next email.​​ Thanks!
Tanesha Thurman.”

Michelle Williamson has appeared again, expressing interest in a room I posted on a medical university website rental board. The email is officecompanies7@gmail.com. FYI. Thanks for having this website so I was able to confirm that her details were bogus.

I got the same thing, the posting has sence vanished and the emal been disconnected.

Tanesha Thurman
Feb 22 (6 days ago)

to me
Hi,

I’m 29 years old, Physicist, i work as a Research analyst in a Federal research facility. My boyfriend and I just broke up and I’m looking for a fresh start, somewhere I can work on me and do my Job. I’m planning to rent for 1 year and 6 months. I am not a big party girl, and always like to leave a place better than I found it. As for my background, I have no criminal history. I’m originally from Plattsburgh, NY.. I went to Utica College for by bachelor’s degree and then attended Strathclyde University where I got my masters in Physics. I have worked for two other Petrochemical Chemicals Company in the state and now i work as a Research Analyst in a Federal Research facility in Newport county, RI. so I’m practically moving to the apartment from Rhode Island, I have good credit, references and no criminal record.

I’m very interested in the place however I also have few things of my own I wouldn’t need everything so my furniture won’t be a problem as i will be moving the ones that are not needed into my movers storage unit, i have dresser, queen size bed, brand new mattress, standing mirror, desk, side bed lamps, chandelier, cooking utensils, dryer, i ​​have my Car, some Interior decorations ( Persian Rug, Paintings, Sculptor and other Art stuff).. I wouldn’t mind checking out what’s there as there are some things I’m losing to my ex. Although i have lived on m​​y own for many years now and already have much of what I need.

Ideally I would like to move in as soon as possible but I’m ready to hold the place prior to my ​arrival​ I would be able to give you the down payment right away, my exact move in date is March 12th but then I’m ready to make the first month rent fee to hold the place. Having said that, I would love for us to meet somewhere first to discuss the whole rental process in real time but the nature of my job and work schedule won’t permit me and besides i can’t travel from Rhode Island just to see the place considering the distance but i’m guessing it’s a place and in a perfect neighborhood though. Frankly what my soul needs right now is a quiet and drama free environment. My first month rent fee will be in form of Certified Check let me know if you’re okay with the payment mode so i can take necessary measure with my supervisor to issue the payment to you, so you will get the payment before the end of next week if you provide the your name and address for the Check it will be be cut to you without further delay.

My pictures will be included in my next email.​​ Thanks!
Tanesha Thurman

I got the same exact thing, but I was weary of the fact she wanted to send money for her move and that I would pay for her move with the extra cash. The I got the check, called the bank it was drawn on, and they asked me if the check was sign by a specific name, and it was the same name, so they were aware of the fraudulent checks out there. I am not looking to get a little more information from this person like cell phone and email and I am turning this over to the FBI as she used the US mail to deliver the check.

I consider myself to be fairly street smart and was cautious from the start. But I know others might think this is legit as the check actually looks real. But please if things seem odd about them, there is usually a reason. Best way to find out, call the bank to confirm the check is real. Only took me 10 minutes on the phone to determine this….Good luck

Thanks for the heads up, I have gotten tons of these!! Any ways to prevent it?!
Hello,
I’m interested in renting the room. My name is Annie Powel i
was born in France (Paris) i speak both French & English, am single,
fun,loving,clean, loyal and respectful of others, don’t have any pet.
More about me, my father is from US and my mother is from France. I’m
25yrs old, sex female, i attend American University of Paris,
graduated a year ago.
I’m coming to stay for a year, and am coming for my master’s
degree.I’m currently in Guam (Sinajana)” on a research work and will
be coming soon…i’ll loved to call you but here is a remote area
calls are very hard to go through, please send me some picture of the
room if you can because i will not be able to come over and check on
it before renting.
Please tell me little about yourself…if you are a
student?,working?, married or single?, if there is a garage or parking
space because i will be coming with my own car. Let me know the total
amount for the first month rent, i will be paying upfront so that you
can be rest assured that am really interested in renting the room from
you…
I will be paying via a Bank certified check, so please get back to me
with the following details so that i can ensure you are ready to rent
the room to me. I will sign all necessary papers/Lease at the point of
my arrival because there is no printer and scanner close to me.
BELOW IS THE INFORMATION NEEDED

I’ll be waiting to read back from you with the information
requested so that i can forward it to my father to issue out the check
for the deposit and month rent upfront as soon as possible, with that
you can hold on the place prior my arrival.Thanks for your
co-operation.

Another one:
Thanks for getting back to me and also good to hear back from you, I’m interested in renting the room. My name is Bella, i was born in Germany i speak both German & English, am single, fun, loving, clean, loyal and respectful of others, don’t have any pet. More about me, my father is from US and my mother is from Germany. I’m 23yrs old, sex female, i attend American University of Paris, graduated a year ago. I’m coming to stay for 2 years, and am coming for my master’s degree.I’m currently in wikipedia in a village “Hawaii” on a research work and will be coming soon… I’ll loved to call you but here is a remote area calls are very hard to go through, please send me some picture of the room because i will not be able to come over and check on it before renting. Please tell me little about yourself…if you are a student?,working?, married or single?, if there is a garage or parking space because i will be coming with my own car. Let me know the total amount for the first month rent, i will be paying upfront so that you can be rest assured that am really interested in renting the room from you…My mode of payment is US Check, so please feed me back with the following details so that i can ensure you are ready to rent the room to me.

BELOW IS THE INFORMATION NEEDED***** Full Name:****** Street Address:******* City, State, Zip Code:******** Home & Cell Number:********* Total amount for a month

I just had the exact one!
My name is Andrea Bella i was born in Germany i speak English, am single, fun, loving, clean, loyal and respectful of others, don’t have any pet. More about me, my father is from US and my mother is from Germany. I’m 23yrs old, sex female, i attend American University of Paris, graduated a year ago. I’m coming to stay for 2 years, and am coming for my master’s degree.I’m currently in Wikipedia in a village “Hawaii” on a research work and will be coming soon… I’ll loved to call you but here is a remote area calls are very hard to go through, please send me some picture of the room because i will not be able to come over and check on it before renting. Please tell me little about yourself…if you are a student?,working?, married or single?, if there is a garage or parking space because i will be coming with my own car. Let me know the total amount for the first month rent, i will be paying upfront so that you can be rest assured that am really interested in renting the room from you…My mode of payment is US Check, so please feed me back with the following details so that i can ensure you are ready to rent the room to me.

I hope there is a special kind of hell for all the scumbag scammers out there! Having said that, here is my story. I was looking to rent a room and went on Craig’s List to see what was available. Two of the ads I sent inquiries to were responded to by asking me to sign up with Roomster and then they would call me to set up an appointment. My first clue was when I found a duplicate of one the ads (with pictures and twice the rental rate) that had been posted 2 months earlier. Secondly, when I signed up with Roomster (the free use, not paying for the “premium” subscription), I could not find the properties I was interested in. And, after trying to contact these “alleged” landlords, I get absolutely no response. The phone numbers are from another state and the message says, you guessed it, “the text mail subscriber is not availalbe.” After doing a bit of research, it is my belief that Roomster is stealing people’s ads and reposting them with their own contact info to lure people to Roomster.com. They want you to sign up for paid subscription to pad their pockets. I had used Roomster a couple of years ago and gave up because none of my inquiries were responded to. I have since learned that this is their normal practice. When I complained about this back then, Roomster said they have no control of what people do on Craigslist. Be very careful people – and stay away from Roomster.com. God bless!

I’m 29 years old, Physicist, i work as a Research analyst in a Federal research facility. My boyfriend and I just broke up and I’m looking for a fresh start, somewhere I can work on me and do my Job. I’m planning to rent for 1 year and 6 months. I am not a big party girl, and always like to leave a place better than I found it. As for my background, I have no criminal history. I’m originally from Plattsburgh, NY.. I went to Utica College for by bachelor’s degree and then attended Strathclyde University where I got my masters in Physics. I have worked for two other Petrochemical Chemicals Company in the state and now i work as a Research Analyst in a Federal Research facility in Newport county, RI. so I’m practically moving to the apartment from Rhode Island, I have good credit, references and no criminal record.

I’m very interested in the place however I also have few things of my own I wouldn’t need everything so my furniture won’t be a problem as i’ld be moving the ones that are not needed into my movers storage unit, i have dresser, queen size bed, brand new mattress, standing mirror, desk, side bed lamps, chandelier, cooking utensils, dryer, i ​​have my Car, some Interior decorations ( Persian Rug, Paintings, Sculptor and other Art stuff).. I wouldn’t mind checking out what’s there as there are some things I’m losing to my ex. Although i have lived on m​​y own for many years now and already have much of what I need.

Ideally I would like to move in as soon as possible but I’m ready to hold the place prior to my ​arrival​ I would be able to give you the down payment right away, my exact move in date is May 7th but then I’m ready to make the first month rent fee to hold the place. Having said that, I would love for us to meet somewhere first to discuss the whole rental process in real time but the nature of my job and work schedule won’t permit me and besides i can’t travel from Rhode Island just to see the place considering the distance but i’m guessing it’s a place and in a perfect neighborhood though. Frankly what my soul needs right now is a quiet and drama free environment. My first month rent fee will be in form of Certified Check let me know if you’re okay with the payment mode so i can take necessary measure with my supervisor to issue the payment to you, so you will get the payment before the end of next week if you provide the your name and address for the Check it will be be cut to you without further delay.

My pictures will be included in my next email.​​ Thanks!
Tanesha
(401) 684-4714

I just got a suspicious response to a student-housemate wanted ad. The clues for me were: 1. She mentioned things that were already answered in the ad, like asking whether the room was furnished, when the ad said that it was. 2. She pushed that she was Christian, when I’d said things that aren’t generally endorsed by Christians (“all sexual orientations welcome”). 3. It was just over-generic. I’d asked for a graduate student, and she said she was 23 years old, which is a bit young for a grad. 4. She didn’t mention what she was studying, which is almost always included by real students. And so on. It was just “off”. I recommend ignoring responses that don’t feel right. And I marked it as spam in gmail.

Thank you so much for this posting. I hope you will keep it up to help other innocent people from being taken advantage of. It seems this scam has been going on for many years!

I too have been contacted by the scammer(s) with the following email addresses. I am posting those emails here to prevent others from being ripped off. I almost fell for it until I received a similar response and realized the nature of this scam. I googled ‘Craigslist Roommate Scam’ and your article was the first that popped up.

Good to hear back from you, its still available for rent. My name is
Adriana Gennaro, I was born and razed in Florida, am coming for my
master in hospitality and tourism I’m really interested in renting
from you, i would have loved to see it but am very far, with pictures
i Will really appreciate it. I really want you to tell me more about
yourself and i will like to know if you have a garage or parking space
cos ill have my own car coming over there, please let me know the
total payment of the place and all the Utilities of the room cos I
will like to make the payment for the first month/deposit ahead of my
arrival, payment will be done via US Certified Check from a reputable
Bank and I am planning to come by 25th of May. The following details
will be needed so that the payment can be issue out right away, i will
very glad to read from you with the information to facilitate the
mailing of the check.

1) Your full Name,
2) Mailing address Include Apt # If Available,
3) Your phone number as well,
4) Total Amount of the month rent

I hope to end my current appointments by the end of this week….I’m
planning to come for the Hospitality and Tourism Internship Program as
soon as i arrive and It will be a great pleasure seeing you soon. I
think you should let me know little about you too.

Regards.

Thanks for your response, I’m so glad to hear the room is still
available for rent….. My name is Katherine Dauglas here is little
about me, i speak both Spain and English. I’m single, clean, and
respectful of others, My father is from US and my mother is from
Spain, am 21yrs old female. I was born in Valencia graduated last
year from University of Valencia

I am coming for my master’s degree. I’m Currently In Guam
(Sinajana)” On Calls Are Very Hard To Go Through… please send me
some picture of the room because i will not be able to come over and
check on it before renting.

Please Tell Me little About Yourself…If You Are A
Student?,Working?,Married Or Single?, If There Is A Garage Or Parking
Space Because I Will Be Coming With My Own Car. Let Me Know The Total
Amount For The First Month Rent, I Will Be Paying Upfront So That You
Can Be Rest Assured That Am Really Interested In Renting The Room From
You…

I Will Be Paying Via A Bank Certified Check or Cashier check So
Please Get Back To Me With The Following Eetails So That I Can Ensure
You Are Ready To Rent The Room To Me. I Will Sign All Necessary
Papers/Lease At The Point Of
My Arrival Because There Is No Printer And Scanner Close To Me.

I’ll Be Waiting To Read Back From You With The Information Requested
So That I Can Forward It To My Father To Issue Out The Check For The
Deposit And Month Rent Upfront As Soon As Possible, With That You Can
Hold On The Place Prior My Arrival.Thanks For Your Co-Operation.

I saw your rental listing and i will be coming from United Kingdom for a research program at the Rice University and i wanted to see if it’s still available. If so, could you let me know what the monthly rent is? Also, here are some other questions I had: Will the unit be furnished? What is the neighborhood like? On average, how much do the utilities cost? When will the unit be available? Can I sign a year lease Or Months To Months? Do you require a deposit?

Thanks for the mail and i am Michelle Williamson,22yrs old, female,I do really appreciate your efforts towards this.You sound very nice i am also an easy going person as well.i appreciate your urgent response towards this and the explanation you have made and pls kindly let me know the exact date to move in but i will be securing the place before coming over to the state. so plz kindly get back to me with the Final asking price,pics and If there is any application you can send it to me so that i can print it out and have it fill then bring it along when am coming over to the state.i am from Sheffield City and the only child of my parents and coming on a research program on Anthropologist in the state,Am easy going lady that love people around are, care and well mature that you wont regret in having me as your roomie,Am christian,i went to catholic church,Friendly, outgoing, considerate, very clean, and responsible. Don`t smoke/do drugs. i love pets,I tolerate drinking environment,I tolerate smoking environment but with good reasonable people,s.

Also i will like you to get back to me with your full Name, phone numbers and the postal address, because i can get it forward to my dad cos he is responsible for the payment and please let me know the actual amount needed to secure the place,

This page has been a great help, thanks for doing this and to everyone for sharing their experiences!
I listed a room on a publicly visible website for Partners Healthcare, here in Boston. I received a response from the Michelle Williams persona that others have mentioned, and just sitting down to address it, I decided to google the name and email address … and here I am.
On a quick read, the English on this one is not so broken, so I didn’t get a mental flag right away. It’s the same as others have listed, though this is a little-known (though public) rental listing. So here is the text of the email, in case it’s useful to others:

Michelle Williamson

Hello,

I saw your rental listing and i will be coming from United Kingdom for a research program at the Partners HealthCare and i wanted to see if it’s still available. If so, could you let me know what the monthly rent is? Also, here are some other questions I had: Will the unit be furnished? What is the neighborhood like? On average, how much do the utilities cost? When will the unit be available? Can I sign a year lease Or Months To Months? Do you require a deposit?

Thanks for getting back to me, am interested in staying in the room
for a Lease period. My name is Jessica Smith, was born and
raised in Lima, Ohio . I speak English and a little Chinese, am
single, clean and respectful of others, don’t have any pet but no
problem if you have got pets. You can look me up on facebook as
Jessica Smith. My Dad is from Lebanon, Kentucky and Mom
is from Guangzhou, China. I’m 26 years old female, I obtained my
bachelor’s degree (Hospitality and Tourism) from the Akron, Ohio. I
would be there for my Master’s Degree in Hospitality and Tourism. I’m
presently on Shackleford Banks, North Carolina on a research program
with the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) but would be coming
down soon. I would have love to call you, but here is a remote area
calls hardly go through but i receive text messages. I will be coming
in JUNE so please send me
some pictures of the room because i will not be able to come over and
check on it before moving in. I would love to know more about
yourself. If you are a student? worker? married or single? if there is
a garage or parking space because i will be coming with my own car.
Let me know the total amount for the deposit and first month rent, I
will be paying upfront so that you can be rest assured that i really
do want to secure the room. I will be paying you via a Bank certified
check, so kindly get back to me with the below details so that i can
ensure you are ready to rent the room to me. I would be signing
necessary documents/Lease at the point of my arrival because i have
got no printer and scanner here with me even if it will need me
lodging in a hotel around for some few days pending the acceptance of
the documents.

Kindly get back to me with the details requested so that i can get it
across to my father to issue out the check for the deposit and month
rent upfront asap, with that you can hold on the place prior my
arrival. Thanks for your co-operation.

Thanks for getting back to me,Here are little information about
myself.My name is Clara Erick am 26 years,I am single,I Spent
most of my days at Paris(France)My father lives in the USA(New York).I
am quiet and easy going person to live with,I am extremely clean,quiet
and caring i am easy to get along with.I drink occasionally but I
don’t smoke,I admit I am not perfect but I try to leave things in a
condition so that others are not inconvenienced.I am coming for a long
term stay over there once am through with my research here in GUAM.I
would have love to call but this is a remote area calls are hardly to
go through but we can exchange Texts for the main time. I need to
secure this place for myself before I arrive to the state as I’ll be
moving in with my luggage and my car as well.
I must confess to you that you will enjoy my stay in your home.
I am a chemist by profession and i am currently working on a research
here in Guam as I said earlier.I would like to pay upfront via a
certified bank check so that you can hold the room for me till my
prior arrival to the state.I will be in the state on JUNE 9TH for
the next one year and during my stay i will be working with the United
state environmental protection agency (EPA) on a private research
work….It
will be a great pleasure seeing you soon.I think you should let me
know a Little about you with the pict
Thanks for the information you provided,dont worry I will forward the
information to my dad asap so that you will be able to have the check
with you this week.Please consider the room rented to me and get it
off craigslist so that nobody will contact you for it again Also will
you be able to pick me up at the airport on my arrival because this is
my first time coming to state and i don’t know much places around if
not you can just give me direction from the airport and i will pick a
cab to the house .Concerning the delivery of my car and furniture ,I’m
planning on having my Car/furnitures to be delivered before my arrival
so that i can settle in comfortably but i can still make use of your
bed ,you can understand that transiting cross Atlantic is not easy so
i am making arrangement with the furniture company to deliver some
furniture and the car before my arrival after the rent and security
deposit has been paid to you by my Dad.I will ask you for a favor
here,can i rely on you to take delivery of the furniture and the car
for me when they are delivered.I will instruct the person in charge of
the delivery to contact you to schedule a delivery time that will be
convenient for you to receive the items for me .As you will be
handling the delivery of the items with the rent and deposit to be
sent to you so that you can help me to make the payment when they ar

Thanks very much for this blog! I replied to a post from what sounds like a responsible, good woman looking to rent a room. She claims to be a Christian, travelling nurse from Rapid City, SD, whose mother just died of cancer. I did some googling and couldn’t find anything that suggested her name (Addie/Adeline McCarthy) fit with any of her story. She sent me pictures… cute, blonde, doing yoga. Her pictures didn’t match any I saw when googling her name.

This is the 2nd email I received from her, which has some familiar phrases and characteristics that have been shared by others on this blog (thank you, everyone, for sharing!) :

“Hi, I am happy to read from you and so happy to have come in contact with someone down to earth like you. I would have loved to see the place, meet with you, before anything but it will be stressful for me to make a trip overthere and coming back here to finish the things i have left to do, So we have to work something out. I know its not easy to rent without meeting but most people meet somehow and you can be rest assured that i am with good values. I can put up in a hotel for a 2 days or 3 before moving in. I am just trying to make this work for me because i am currently staying at a sister’s place ( She’s on honeymoon) so i need to get some place soon. I am ready to move in as soon as the rental is available. I am open to lease as well as month to month arrangement too. And if you choose to rent to me, i promise you are never going to regret it, as am reliable and will never be late on rent/bills. I’d respect your opinions and rules. I chose to move there because a former colleague who lived there for 2&half years said i will love it there, i nearly move few months ago. I have attached 2 of my pictures to this email, so as to put a face to the messages & i’ll appreciate same. I also want you to know that i have some personal effects and I just bought my toyota camry ( i can park on street if there is no parking space). I am sorry if i leave any details out, this is my first time moving like this. Please, I am looking to move in as soon as possible, and would want a guaranteed place before moving. I am also willing to put a deposit down so you know that i am serious. I recently lost my smart phone (getting a new one soon) but i do have a smaller which i can message you with. I’d be emailing you with the # in my next email so we can connect and exchange text messages if you have a text plan. I am not a fan of the social media thing especially facebook, but if you do want me to open one, I would consider it. Please understand that I just want to have firm plans before moving and i hope we can talk about that in the next email. Hope to read from you ASAP and see pics.
Addie”

So i am glad i found this!! here is a copy of the Email sent me from the scammer!!
Thanks so much for your quick reply I’m interested in renting the room. My name is Annie Powel speak both French & English, am single, fun,loving,clean, loyal and respectful of others, don’t have any pet. More about me, my father is from US and my mother is from France. I’m 26yrs old, sex female, I attend American University of Paris, graduated a year ago.
I’m coming to stay for a year, and am coming for my master’s degree.This is my second time coming to the state and I’m currently in Guam (Sinajana)” on a research work and will be coming soon…I’ll loved to call you but here is a remote area calls are very hard to go through, please send me some picture of the room if you can because I will not be able to come over and check on it before renting.
Please tell me little about yourself…if you are a student?,working?, married or single?, if there is a garage or parking space because i will be coming with my own car and we want you to help me with the delivery of my car to the house. Let me know the total amount for the first month rent, I will be paying upfront so that you can be rest assured that am really interested in renting the room from you…
I will be paying via a Bank certified check and will be mail to you by my dad who is currently in the state but traveling to China for business very soon.so please get back to me with the following details so that I can ensure you are ready to rent the room to me. I will sign all necessary papers/Lease at the point of my arrival because there is no printer and scanner close to me.
BELOW IS THE INFORMATION NEEDED
Full Name:
Street Address,City,State,Zip Code:
Cell & Home #:
Total amount for move in:

I’ll be waiting to read back from you with the information requested so that I can forward it to my father to issue out the check for the deposit and month rent upfront as soon as possible, with that you can hold on the place prior my arrival.Thanks for your co-operation.

Here’s MY version of this SCAM. Very weird … correspondence got highly weirder. Ack! I lost out on potential renters with credentials due to the incessant and insistent emails from “Deborah.”

* * * * *

I’m interested in renting the room. My
Name is Deborah Faith Smith i was born in China (Beijing) i speak
both China &
English, am single, fun, loving, clean, loyal and respectful of
others, don’t have any pet. More about me, my father is from US and my
mother is from China. I’m 24yrs old, sex female, i attend berkeley
city college, graduated a year ago.

I’m coming to stay for a year, and am coming for my master’s degree.
I’m currently in Alaska in a village “Nunivak Island” on a research
work and will be coming soon… please send me some picture of the
room because i will not be able to come over and check on it before
renting.

I posted a roommate request on Craigslist two days ago and got three local responses and six responses from young women serving abroad, also always of US and foreign parents, unable to contact me except by email but their dad would send whatever money I wanted. I began to be suspicious when my replies denying probable availability because of local interest were responded by the same original message. Then finally after two different people were working in Guam and two in Nunavak Island, Alaska sent almost identical messages. I decided to Google roommate scams and was saved a big headache. I haven’t rented the room for sure at this point but I did append my ad by stating plainly that I would only let to people whom I have interviewed in person. The other emails were concluded by a statement to them what my rules now are and that the matter is closed. I certainly hope it is.